The network

IVAM is an international network with about 300 members from all relevant fields of microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials. IVAM’s main purpose is to make technological innovations and developments known to a broad public and help them conquer the market. In particular, the network supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in bringing their innovative techniques and products to the market and prevailing in international competition.

Main activities

IVAM arranges international business and research cooperation projects. For this purpose, the network organises joint pavilions at trade fairs and holds workshops, seminars, and business round tables. The IVAM joint pavilions at MicroTechnology / HANNOVER MESSE (Hannover, Germany) and COMPAMED / MEDICA (Düsseldorf, Germany) are among the largest market places for miniaturised high-tech solutions. In Asia, IVAM promotes the innovations of its members at the Exhibition Micromachine / MEMS and nano tech (Tokyo, Japan) and at NANO KOREA (Seoul, Korea). During the Microtechnology Summer School, IVAM establishes contacts between high-tech companies as potential employers and students as future employees.
IVAM promotes its members' products and developments through the German high-tech magazine "inno" and the newsletters MikroMedia (in English and German) and NeMa-News (in German). IVAM's websites include news about microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials, links to all the members of the network, search engines, and the IVAM directory online.
Furthermore, IVAM aids company startups, assists SMEs in acquiring funding, and conducts research for market studies and trend analyses.

The technological focus

As interdisciplinary technologies, microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials supply many different branches. Medical technology and research and development are currently the most important target markets. Furthermore, micro and nano products are utilised in measurement and control technology and in the automotive and aerospace industries. Energy and efficiency applications will certainly grow in importance in the future. The main technology areas of the companies, institutes and partners in the IVAM network are, amongst others, micromechanics, surfaces/coatings, sensor technology and micro-optics.

Highlights

IVAM arranges international business and research cooperation projects. For this purpose, the network organises joint pavilions at trade fairs and holds workshops, seminars and business round tables. The IVAM joint pavilions at MicroNanoTec/HANNOVER MESSE (Hannover, Germany) and COMPAMED/MEDICA (Düsseldorf, Germany) are among the largest marketplaces for miniaturised high-tech solutions.

In Asia, IVAM promotes the innovations of its members at the Exhibition Micromachine/MEMS and nano tech (Tokyo, Japan) and at NANO KOREA (Seoul, Korea).

During the Microtechnology Summer School (www.mikrotechnik-summerschool.de), IVAM establishes contacts between high-tech companies as potential employers and students as future employees.

IVAM promotes innovative products and developments through the German high-tech magazine “inno” and the newsletters MikroMedia (in English and German) and NeMa-News (in German). IVAM’s websites www.ivam.eu and www.neuematerialien.de include news about microtechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials, links to all members of the network, and the search engine IVAM directory online.

Furthermore, IVAM aids company start-ups, assists SMEs in acquiring funding, conducts research for market studies (www.ivam-research.com) and does project work, in the European project “CORONA” (www.corona-mnt.eu) and the BMBF project “mstIfemNet meets Nano and Optics” (www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta), for example.