Microsystems are enabling technologies
for diverse sectors of the Canadian economy including:
Aerospace:
Microsystems improve airplane and spacecraft structures, performance monitoring, engine operations, navigation, safety systems, space-based robotics and remote sensing systems. They enable more precise control of vehicles while reducing the size, mass and power requirements for operational and safety functions and energy efficiency.
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Automotive:
Powertrain components, safety systems, environmental systems, pollution control, navigation, collision avoidance systems, propulsion systems and multimedia systems depend on microsystems.
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Bio:
| Microsystems such as biochips, labs-on-a-chip and biosensors are helping improve effectiveness and reduce costs in medical diagnostics and treatment (including remote care), drug discovery and delivery, genome investigations and medical devices such as pacemakers, point-of-care blood testers and many others. |
Energy & Environment:
| Oil and gas exploration, fuel cells and alternate energy increasingly depend on microsystems for the technologies and processes which increase the efficiency and productivity of resource extraction, harvesting, energy capture, and monitoring. Many environmental innovations are enabled by the use of microsystems and environmental technologies. This includes water and wastewater treatment, hazardous and solid waste management, air pollution control, alternative energy and efficiency, and environmental protection, control, and remediation. |
Information and Communications Technologies
(ICT):
| Microsystems are essential for Information & Communications Technology (ICT) products and services including computers, telephones and cell phones, satellites, fibre optic communications, the Internet, global positioning systems and broadband technologies. |
Natural Resources:
| Microsystems such as separation/extraction and processing technologies, genomics, traceability systems, diagnostics, imaging and sensing technologies, unique identification systems, and processing technologies offers cost reduction advantages, greater control over product quality, sustainable forestry practices, health and nutritional benefits and reduction in requirements for pesticides and herbicides. |
Security and Defence:
Microsystems are central to security and defence applications, for example, in chemical and biological agent monitoring and identification systems. The performance of security and defence personnel may be greatly enhanced with portable devices serving many functions (such as detection, communications and mapping based on global positioning systems) and enhanced simulation-based training platforms.
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