Carinthian Tech Research – which merged with Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) in July 2019 and now operates under that name – is one of Austria's largest research bodies in the field of intelligent sensor technology and system integration. It has more than 100 researchers working with industry to develop sensors, power and radio-frequency (RF) electronics, and related assembly and hetero-integration technologies. EU funding has enabled SAL to purchase the latest measuring and process equipment for its clean room, which covers a total area of 300 m² and forms the centrepiece of its site in Villach.
New equipment for leading Austrian research centre Silicon Austria Labs
- 29 January 2020
With the possibility of bringing technological developments in the research clean room up to the pilot and pre-series stage, research and development co-operation becomes even more interesting for many industrial partners. It allows them to exploit the miniaturisation potential of their products, to accommodate control technology in smaller and smaller spaces, and to integrate micro-sensitive systems as efficiently as possible.
The equipment allows research teams to carry out a range of R&D processes physically, rather than solely via simulations. It aids investigations into the production and characterisation, at microchip level, of test structures for fabrication of micro-sensors.
This, in turn, supports analysis of production technologies, combinations of materials and interactions between them; development of prototypes of smart micro-electronic components or subsystems; and integration of these components into larger applications or systems that function as a coordinated whole.
Research to improve daily life
System integration of intelligent sensors forms the basis for innovation and creation of smart products and services in a number of areas with the potential to enhance people’s everyday lives. These include mobility, mobile telephony, household appliances, the internet of things, production processes, food safety, mechanical engineering and medical, environmental and energy technologies.
Manufacturing procedures necessary for system integration must be performed in the cleanest possible conditions, as even the smallest impurities can render an entire sensor system worthless. The ventilation and air conditioning, power connections, measurement and control technology and supply facilities at the SAL clean rooms ensure they meet the highest technical standards for this type of activity.
Benefits for industrial partners
Given the know-how within the SAL team, its services as a research partner were already in demand, regionally, nationally and internationally. New investment in cutting-edge technology makes collaboration on innovation projects even more interesting for industrial companies.
By providing firms with fast, cost-effective access to expert knowledge, high-performance infrastructure and international networks, SAL helps to make the state of Carinthia a centre for innovation and an attractive location for business, raising its profile at European level. Resulting cooperation projects, including two currently under preparation with the Alps Adriatic University of Klagenfurt and the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, foster cooperation between scientific and industrial partners.
In addition, the technology creates and maintains jobs and keeps skilled people in Carinthia, strengthening its competitiveness. Qualified researchers are needed at SAL. Six positions opened up thanks to the project. Students use the centre for work on theses and dissertations.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Research Clean Room Equipment 2017” is EUR 2 000 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 360 000 through the “Investments in Growth and Employment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Jobs, Growth and Investment”.