RAS Nodes

CCLRC is the largest UK national research facility employing ~2000 scientists, engineers and support staff. The project-related tasks for 4M will be carried out by the Central Microstructure Facility (CMF) at CCLRC-RAL. CMF is a division of the CCLRC engaged in R&D activities in micro and nano systems technology for the past 20 years. It has been involved with large number of nationally funded and EC funded projects. CCLRC -RAL has led many Nationally funded programmes including the £19 million Innovations in Industrial Lithography (ISL) programme funded by the UK Department of Trade and Industries. The CMF is a major national centre for microsystems technology. As a national facility we interact with over 100 universities in the UK. Our European involvement is also very strong. We have led many EU projects.
The Central Microstructure Facility (CMF) provides state-of-the-art microfabrication services and R&D facilities, based on electron-beam lithography and semiconductor equipment, to universities and industry. A central well-found research and prototype manufacturing service is available using advanced technology for microelectronics, masks, interconnects, direct write and for microsystems technology/microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). CMF is a neutral site where academic-industry and industry-industry collaborations offer good technology transfer opportunities.

The activity at Cranfield University will involve the integration of activities in two areas: Nanotechnology and Precision Engineering. The Nanotechnology Group at Cranfield University, specialises in fusing micro-engineering and nanotechnology with the industrial application and development of functional materials (especially ferroelectric) to produce novel devices.

FEMTO-ST has fully equipped clean room equipment (laser mask writer; photolithography; RIE and DRIE); hot embossing; ultrasonic machining.

For more information about the facilities available, visit the FEMTO-ST website at:

The Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik (IBMT) is one of the five institutes of the Alliance Life Science of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. IBMT applies its potential on subjects, such as non- or minimal-invasivity, microsystems engineering, implant technology (interfaces between technical and biological microsystems), molecular and cellular biotechnology, nano(bio)technology, telemetric data and energy transfer, health telematics and multilocal sensor systems connected by communication technologies.
One main research field of the Miniaturized Systems Group at IBMT is the development of microfluidic devices for point of care applications. IBMT has a fully equipped class 100 clean room and has expertise in designing and fabricating microfluidic biochip interfaces as well as in the whole field of biochip packaging. Technologies like reel-to-reel hot embossing and lamination as well as moulding are available. Another research field is the development of modules and systems for the wireless transmission of biological & physiological signals for bio-monitoring and remote control of active medical implants. Included herein is the wireless transmission of energy for the operation of medical implants. The group has about 10 scientific and technical fulltime employees.