ProjectMICACT
Micro-actuators for tiny devices
Microactuators (MICACT)
The MICACT project trained a new generation of multidisciplinary engineers and materials scientists focusing on miniaturised low-cost soft devices for applications like medicine, environmental monitoring, and Internet of Things devices. Technologies whose impact on our everyday life is increasing.
Project impact
Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are smart materials that can change their size or shape when stimulated by an electric field. They could usher in a new era of technologies in everything from medicine to environmental monitoring. The MICACT Innovative Training Network helped 15 early-stage researchers to get essential expertise in areas like materials science, small-scale machines, and sensing technologies. The objective of the project was to enable the researchers to push EAP technology forward in both academia and industry, developing materials whose stiffness and shape can be controlled. They did this in vastly different but complementary ways. Some researchers were able to develop new designs for tiny EAP-based machines. The technology could be used to develop new types of robots that would be able to carry out precise surgical procedures. Other researchers developed technologies for smart textiles, new building techniques and self-sensing materials that could be used to develop implantable medical devices such as catheters. The project is helping Europe remain a leader in new and energy-efficient technologies that are shaping the future.
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Coordinator
Estonia
Tartu Ülikool
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Participating and partners countries
- Estonia
- Estrotech OU
- France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS
- Cy Cergy Paris Université
- Université Paris Cité
- Germany
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Italy
- IVTech SRL
- Netherlands
- Technische Universiteit Delft
- Spain
- Arquimea Aerospace Defence and Security SL
- Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena
- Sweden
- Linköpings Universitet
- United Kingdom
- Queen Mary University of London
- Australia
- University of Wollongong
- Canada
- University British Columbia
- China
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics CAS
- France
- Brain Vision Systems SAS
- Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale di Ricerca
- Monaco
- Single Buoy Mooring Inc
- New Zealand
- The University of Auckland
- Switzerland
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
- United Kingdom
- ARTIS a business of AVON Polymer Products Ltd
- Estonia