PhotonMed: 32-million-euro project to accelerate innovation in medical technology
Photonics plays a central role in modern diagnostic devices such as pulse oximeters or fluorescence-based biomarker scanners for personalized medicine – the variety of applications is huge. However, the integration of new photonic technologies into existing value chains or the creation of new value chains is challenging. Added to this are lengthy, cost-intensive processes due to strict regulation and validation, which delay the market launch of new products.
The project, funded over three years with 32 million euros by the European Union and the respective national ministries within the “Chips Joint Undertaking” initiative, aims to accelerate this process:. On the basis of 16 pilot cases, value chains for future product developments in Europe are being established in order to accelerate the use and utilization of modern photon technologies in medical technology. These advances should enable more precise, faster, less invasive and personalized solutions for preventive healthcare as well as diagnostic and therapeutic instruments. With a total of 39 partners from 9 European countries, the project draws on expertise from 5 sectors to cover all aspects of establishing these value chains. These sectors range from research and technology organizations (RTOs) such as the University of Freiburg, production companies from industry, manufacturers of production facilities, institutions from the regulatory environment and industrial end users.
The project is coordinated by the Technical Research Center Finland (VTT). At the Chair for MEMS Applications at the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg, the research focus is on the development of microfluidic technologies for the miniaturization and automation of complex laboratory processes as well as the development of customized solutions for the production of functional samples and prototypes and the integration of photonic components. The University of Freiburg team is involved in 4 of the 16 pilot cases as a RTO, in which value chains for later product developments are to be established in cooperation with the respective partners on the basis of initial prototypes.
The Chair of MEMS Applications has been conducting research in close cooperation with the Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e. V. for several years in order to promote the transfer of technology from research to industrial utilization.
Further information:
https://www.vttresearch.com/en/news-and-stories/media
https://www.chips-ju.europa.eu/
Contact:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Zengerle
MEMS Applications
Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK)
E-Mail: zengerle(a)imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Dr. Markus Rombach
Head of Prototyping, Process Development and Transfer
Tel.: 0761/203-73222
E-Mail: markus.rombach@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Kerstin Steiger-Merx
Representative PR/Marketing
Faculty of Engineering
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Tel.: 0761/203-8056
E-Mail: steiger-merx@tf.uni-freiburg.de