New centre to focus Belgian and Dutch research

The Holst Centre is a new research centre that will develop future generations of wireless autonomous transducer solutions and systems-in-foil.

The Holst Centre is a new research centre that will develop future generations of wireless autonomous transducer solutions and systems-in-foil.

The centre is a collaborative venture between IMEC of Belgium and TNO from The Netherlands.

Philips, a leading player in the field of polymer electronics and microsystems, has committed to become the first industrial partner.

Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Fientje Moerman, Belgium's Flemish Minister of Economics, Science and Innovation, have given the go-ahead for the new Holst Centre to be located at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

According to Minister Brinkhorst, The Netherlands has already committed Eur 12.5 million to complete the first phase of the co-operation agreement.

The Holst Centre will begin with 75 employees.

The Holst Centre will start with two strategic programme initiatives.

IMEC will lead the wireless autonomous transducer solutions initiative.

The system-in-foil research and development initiative will be managed by TNo The synergy between both initiatives will be fully utilised by the creation of joint strategic R and D activities.

IMEC is recognised as a leading institute in research for IC process technologies, advanced microsystems and system design.

Within the Holst Centre, IMEC will expand its current research for wireless autonomous microsystems with focuses on: ultra-low-power radio; ultra-low-power signal processing; micropower generation, storage and management; and sensor and actuator technology.

The new legal entity to be set up in The Netherlands by IMEC will integrate these building blocks to realise solutions for the future deployment of autonomous wireless transducer networks.

TNO is a recognised R and D partner of industries in areas such as high-end equipment for the IC industry, optical instrumentation, automotive and materials processing.

It has built expertise around the industrialisation of microsystems and polymer electronics, which it will contribute to the Holst Centre.

In the Holst Centre, capabilities in the fields of printing of polymers, large-area deposition and structuring of thin layers and design of device architectures will be further developed.

The centre will use these capabilities to create and demonstrate "sensing and acting surfaces", large-area, thin-layered products such as organic lighting and signage, sensor tags and organic electronics.

Key application areas for both wireless autonomous microsystems and for system-in-foil products will be targeted from the long list of potential user domains such as healthcare and lifestyle, industrial process monitoring and control, agriculture, mobile gaming, automotive, home and industrial buildings, transportation/logistics/asset management.

It is recognised by major industrial players that intensive co-operation in an open innovation spirit is essential for successful long-term, cost-effective research and future product innovation.

Interaction and co-operation with both academia and the industry, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, enables the Holst Centre to tune its scientific strategy to the long-term corporate product strategies of its partners.

A beneficial transfer of technology to the industry is guaranteed and market requirements can be anticipated.

Some industrial and university partners have already expressed their intention to participate such an R and D collaboration.

The Holst Centre will operate as a programme organisation, offering industries research based on well-defined roadmaps.

Companies, institutes and universities around the world are invited to collaborate in the two programme initiatives of the Holst Centre.

The start of the Holst Centre was made possible by the financing of The Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, together with contributions from other partners.

The centre is named after Gilles Holst, a Dutch pioneer in research and development and the first Director of Philips Research.

Back to top