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enablingMNT InterviewMANCEF interviews enablingMNT
Crossing the Chasm: Micro-Nano Consultancy
Real deals with real money happen during each COMS conference. In the past, this meant start-ups and venture capital. While this is still the case, it is also noteworthy to see the longer term impact of community and entrepreneurship. The foundation finally has a chance to highlight one of the long-term spin-outs of the COMS conference series, an extrapreneurship effect of the MANCEF community and the COMS series. Henne and Patric have owned previous careers in the Micro/Nano industry and have combined efforts with Drs. El-Fatatry and Paschalidouto to build a premier Micro-Nano consultancy. They share some important industry insights here.
MANCEF: What was the interest of the enablingMNT team to be actively involved in MANCEF?
Patric: The COMS conference with its unique combination of relaxing atmosphere and business climate has always been the key event for all out team to learn about new developments, meet peers and customers, and get into new contracts. Henne and I have both been involved in the MANCEF roadmap and we are going to support the current updates and new chapters. From our closer cooperation with MANCEF, we expect to get new contacts and make the key industries worldwide aware of what we can offer to support their businesses. Educational strategies and consulting to governments on funding/exploitation strategies are additional fields of our consultancy, where an affiliation with MANCEF will be of benefit.
MANCEF: What makes enablingMNT unique as a consultancy organization?
Patric: We realized that Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) is a multinational and multi-technology phenomenon. Consultancy in the area of MNT always needs to take international developments into account – knowing one discipline of MNT or the market within one country is not enough to supply customer value. The enablingMNT group has been launched in 2003. Our main strengths are our flexible approach to consultancy and the unique capabilities of our team members. In addition to their location in three European countries, the members of our team are active in the main international Micro and Nanotechnology organizations. On the capability site, Ayman El-Fatatry, our third partner, covers the systems engineering area, Henne focuses on the manufacturing and equipment side, Lia takes care for the systematic market research, and I am responsible for public policies/funding and marketing.
MANCEF: Some industry thoughts. There are still complaints that it is difficult to find the high quality technology providers who can deliver these low volumes at affordable prices. What is your view on that matter?
Henne: We can distinguish two routes often followed: The first is the easiest one, customers more and more trust the companies working in the periphery of universities, making use of university equipment. The other is a more difficult one, namely to adapt the design in such a way that it fits better in high volume electronic manufacturing. An area, incidentally, that is slowly becoming more flexible and willing to introduce other technologies. The introduction and rising popularity of adapted standard package concepts is a good example of that.
MANCEF: You have been looking into the key areas of the MST/MEMS supply chain and market. Where are the problem areas and who can help to overcome the barriers?
Henne: If you had asked me this a year ago, I would have answered "test & measurement" and two years ago "packaging & assembly". But the gaps towards commercial services in both areas are rapidly decreasing. There is, however, still a lot to be done regarding reliability. The understanding of reliability problems and the lack of publicly available information will delay commercialization, especially in demanding applications. Also the design tools and the "design for manufacture methodology" is still a topic that needs further development. Another unsolved problem in MST/MEMS is the provision of high quality low volume production. Universities are providing this service, but for faster turnaround of a product concept, flexible (commercial) service providers are needed. Governments can help by supporting the necessary infrastructure.
MANCEF: You launched the enablingMNT Industry Review series before COMS last year. Aren't there enough market reports already available?
Patric: The enablingMNT Reviews include some market information, but mainly focus on the MNT product lifecycle; from concept through to production. They describe how a selected topic is linked into the supply chain from product idea, technology development, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, packaging and test, into volume production. They analyze the critical issues encountered during the creation process of MNT-based products and provide guidance with regards to the approaches taken to overcome barriers and challenges. All reviews include a comprehensive listing of services offered in the field. The emphasis is on the provision and availability of fully commercial services, infrastructure, and suppliers considered essential for the realization of MNT-based products – this is what our customers tell us they have been looking for.
enablingMNT Contact Information
Henne van Heeren: henne@enablingmnt.com
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