Programme Memorandum (Electronic Materials and Microsystems)
Contents
1. Objectives of the Programme
2. Links to Other Programmes
3. Implementation of the Programme
4. Background
5. Research Themes of the Programme
6. Application Procedure
7. Application
1. Objectives of the Programme
In response to the proposal of the Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering, the Board of the Academy of Finland decided on 9 June 1998 to launch a Research Programme on Electronic Materials and Microsystems. The objective of the programme is to promote basic research leading to new innovative applications; to support the ongoing research and development effort within the Finnish electronics and electrical industry; and to support applied research funded by the Technology Development Centre and the Finnish industry. At the same time, the programme supports the development of research environments within university units, which is crucial to improving researcher training opportunities. Finally, the programme hopes to encourage science students working in such fields as physics, chemistry and mathematics to turn their attentions increasingly to industrial applications.
2. Links to Other Programmes
The new research programme has been set up in response to the needs highlighted by the 'Information Research (Tieto)' and the 'Materials Research and Structures Research (MATRA)' programmes as well as by the new 'TELECTRONICS' research programme.
The programme will be implemented in collaboration with the Technology Development Centre and their 'Nanotechnology', 'ETX' and 'TLX' technology programmes; and with their forthcoming programmes concerning optical data transfer and MEMS.
3. Implementation of the Programme
The Research Programme for Electronic Materials and Microsystems will be carried out during a three-year period in 1999-2002. The Board of the Academy has allocated a total of FIM 30 million for the programme. The first projects under the programme's umbrella may start up during summer 1999.
A mid-programme seminar presenting the results obtained and progress of the projects will be organized. A final seminar will be arranged after the programme is completed. The projects approved to take part in the programme will report on their progress as specified in the rules of the Academy of Finland. The final results of the research programme will be evaluated by a panel of international experts.
A programme steering group is responsible for planning, starting up, monitoring, and evaluating the programme, as well as for other practical issues related to running the programme. The programme group submits a proposal to the
Board of the Academy of Finland concerning the allocation of resources to the Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering to fund the research projects under the programme. The programme group was appointed by the
Board of the Academy at its meeting on 15 September 1998:
Chair:
Professor Pekka Hautojärvi, Helsinki University of Technology; Academy of Finland, Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering
Members:
President Harry Asonen (Tutcore Ltd), Vice-President Kari-Pekka Estola (Nokia Research Center; Academy of Finland, Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering), Professor Timo Jääskeläinen (University of Joensuu), President Pekka Ketonen (Vaisala Corp.), Professor Risto Pellinen (Finnish Meteorological Institute; Academy of Finland, Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering), Programme Manager Päivi Piironen (Technology Development Centre Finland, Tekes), Group Manager Ilkka Suni (VTT Electronics), Project Manager Mikko Talvitie (Federation of the Finnish Metal, Engineering and Electrotechnical Industries) and Executive Vice President Asko Vehanen (Okmetic Ltd).
According to the Board's decision, Scientific Secretary Tero Majamaa of the Academy of Finland will also participate in the work of the programme group.
4. Background
The Finnish electronics and electrical industry (including the telecommunications industry) has shown strong and steady growth ever since the 1970s. In 1997 the value of its production was FIM 65 billion, with exports accounting for FIM 51 billion, 25% of Finland's total industrial exports. Indeed the electronics and electrical industry is now taking over the number one spot as the country's leading export industry, a position traditionally held by the forest industry. At the same time the number of jobs in the industry is also increasing: each year an average 6,000 new jobs are created in this field. This is the only industrial branch which has shown a continuous increase in numbers employed during the 1990s.
Research is traditionally an important part of the electronics and electrical industry. In 1997, the industry spent a total of FIM six billion on research and development, accounting for over half of the whole R&D input in Finnish industry. A high standard of research and, by the same token, research personnel is crucial to the continued growth and development of this branch of industry. It is estimated that one in every five university graduates should go on to take a PhD; half of them will be needed by the industry, the other half by universities for teaching and research jobs. Several graduate schools have been set up to meet this growing demand: these include the Graduate School in Electronics, Telecommunication and Automation as well as the Graduate Schools in Materials Physics, Technical Physics, Electronics Manufacturing and Silicon Technology and Microsystems.
Continuing integration has meant that the size of electronic devices has become smaller and smaller. Telecommunications has already been revolutionized by the combining of light and electricity. Work is under way to try and replace more and more electrical functions by optical ones for greater speed and efficiency. The integration of optical, mechanical, thermal and electrical devices has created a whole new specialism which is known as microsystem technology.
Within this field there is a need for basic research into both materials and devices. Importantly, this will help to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs in the branch. At the same time, the research effort will also promote the development of optical telecommunications and data transfer.
5. Research Themes of the Programme
The main topic of the research programme is electronic materials, which covers the whole field from growing materials to processing them into devices. This broad scope of themes means that faculties of science concerned with
basic research will also be able to take part in the programme. The descriptions below of the internal structure of the subject areas are intended only as examples; other topics pertaining to these themes are not excluded.
Materials for Silicon Technology
The whole foundation of the electronics industry lies in the rapid development of solid state devices. There is a constant need for more efficient materials and for more skilled and efficient use of these materials. Production of silicon wafers for device and microsystem fabrication started up in Finland more than ten years ago. Even so imports of microelectronic devices both in Finland and in the other Nordic countries clearly exceeds the level of exports, and therefore there is a keen interest within the international industry to start mass production of microcircuits somewhere in Scandinavia, possibly in Finland. However, there is only a handful of skilled professionals in Finland.
Possible subjects in this area include
*Growth, processing, characterization, modelling and simulation of silicon based materials.
*Silicon materials for microsystem fabrication
New Materials and Interface Effects
Another area of intensive ongoing research is work with compound semiconductors. The main reasons why these are superior to silicon as a material in optoelectronics and optical telecommunications lie in the direct energy gap as well as higher carrier mobilities. There have already been some efforts to start industrial fabrication of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) based devices in Finland. Some new semiconductor materials such as nitrides (GaN) and carbides (SiC) are also being studied to develop new light emitting and power devices or devices for high temperature applications. Furthermore, new materials are being developed for displays and sensor structures. An increasing number of materials, including polymers, are being tested and studied for semiconductor device manufacturing. It must be remembered that not only the materials themselves, but also the interface effects as well as the physical and chemical compatibility of different materials are important. Mastery of this field will guarantee an important competitive edge.
Possible subjects in this research area include
*Research and development of compound semiconductors and other materials for micro- and optoelectronics
*Materials for optical data processing and transfer
*Polymers as electronic materials
*Interface effects
Development of Devices and Microsystems
The most common processes in microelectronics are based on silicon technology. Silicon, however, is not only a good material for electronic devices, but it also has excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Therefore by using existing processes in combination with certain new features, this technology can be used to manufacture various miniaturized sensors and actuators. A great deal of work is currently underway in this field. New materials and increasingly complex devices are being developed for these purposes. A microsystem is a combination of microcircuits, sensors and actuators with multiple physical and/or chemical functions. Physical functions include electrical, mechanical, thermal and optical functions. So-called smart microsystems include the microcircuits that are needed for controlling the devices and for the analysis of measurements taken. Finland has strong traditions in the fabrication of micromechanical devices. There is industrial production of silicon wafers as well as microsystems. Another rich source of research themes is provided by the rapid development in the more traditional electronic and optoelectronic devices and fabrication methods. Basic research within this field must be promoted so that the strong positions achieved can be maintained.
Possible subjects in this research area include
*Modelling and simulation of devices and microsystems
*Characterization and measurement methods of devices and microsystems
*Physics of micromechanical structures and devices
*Process development
*Devices for microelectronics and optical data processing and transfer
6. Application Procedure
There is a two-phase call for proposals in the programme. The first phase is a preliminary review, in which applicants accepted to the second and primary call shall be selected. First-phase applications shall be short papers, presented as plans of intentions. The programme group will select from these those that best fulfil the programme's quality and research criteria, and will submit its proposal to the Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering. Those selected to take part in the second application phase will be invited to submit full research plans, which will be evaluated by Academy external experts. Following the evaluation, the programme group will make its funding proposals to the Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering. Funding is usually provided for a three-year period.
Both research groups and research consortiums made up of several research groups may apply for funding. Projects may include foreign groups but the Academy will cover funding only for Finnish partners.
Funding decisions shall be based on the following application criteria:
*high level of scientific content
*fulfilment of the research programme objectives
*innovativeness
*applicability of the results
The research plan should address the following items:
*National and international contacts. Successful creation and maintenance of contacts requires active cooperation between research groups. This may also mean graduate studies and research abroad during the funding period. The proposal shall include a description of how cooperation and contacts between groups will be organized.
*Added value through networking. If the group is a part of a consortium, what are the benefits that are gained through this?
*How does this project promote the education of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers? A clear plan for the supervision of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers must be included. One of the aims of the programme is to educate skilled and competent specialists in this area.
*Diversity of the research group. The research group should consist of distinguished senior researchers, researchers who have recently earned their doctorates, and graduate students.
*Research connected to the project. What kind of other projects are going on or planned in the laboratory? Applications should include an account of funding applied from or granted by any other sources, such as the Technology Development Centre, The European Union or industry.
7. Application
The timetable for the applications is as follows:
30.10.1998: deadline for first-phase applications
22.1.1999: notification to those selected to take part in the second phase
26.2.1999: deadline for second-phase applications
15.4.1999: notification of funding decisions
Both in the first and second phase applications and all documents, including appendices, should be prepared in English and submitted to the Academy of Finland Registrar's office no later than the day mentioned above, during office hours.
First-phase applications shall be prepared on the Academy application form, marking the name of the programme on the first page. The form shall be completed according to the instructions given on it. However, the only appendix required is a research plan consisting of no more than four pages. The research plan should contain a brief presentation of each research group applying for funding. In the case of consortiums, each partner shall complete its own application form, but only one research plan will be prepared. This should contain the individual activities of each partner and the function of the consortium as an entity. There should be a description of how cooperation and contacts between groups will be organized. All the application documents should be sent to the Academy of Finland Registrar's office in 14 copies. All application documents belonging to the same research consortium should be submitted to the Academy in one package.
Second-phase applications shall also be prepared with the Academy application form, but now all the appendices mentioned in the instructions should be enclosed. The maximum length of the research plan is 12 pages. The research plan should include a short presentation of each group applying for funding. Applicants should remember that the foreign experts evaluating the second-phase applications do not necessarily know the research groups. The application forms and all appedices should be sent in 16 copies (original and 15 copies). Two extra abstratcs should also be included. The applications have to be delivered to the Academy Registrar's office no later than 4.15 p.m. on February 26th 1999. On the envelope, as well as on the first page of the application form, there has to be written the Programme abbreviation 'EMMA'. All application documents belonging to the same research consortium should be submitted to the Academy in one package and in every application form there have to be clearly marked in which consortium it belongs to.
The call for proposals to this programme, this programme memorandum, application forms, and the Academy Guide for Applicants can be obtained from the Academy of Finland Registrar's office, where applications should also be returned.
Mailing address:
Academy of Finland, Registrar's office
P.O. Box 99
FIN-00501 HELSINKI
FINLAND
Street address: Vilhonvuorenkatu 6
tel: +358 (9) 7748 8377, telefax: +358 (9) 7748 8299, e-mail: keskus@aka.fi
This programme memorandum and application forms can also be ordered through the Academy's web pages
For practical help with the funding application, contact Secretary Katri-Leena Heikkilä at the Academy on tel. +358 (9) 7748 8260, or e-mail katri-leena.heikkila@aka.fi. For assistance with other questions, please contact Scientific Secretary Tero Majamaa, tel. +358 (9) 7748 8394, e-mail tero.majamaa@aka.fi.