Description

Institute of Electron Technology (ITE) is a public, Polish, non-profit research organization, located in Warsaw, Poland, carrying out applied research and close-to-market innovation (TRL 3 to 8) in microelectronics, photonics and microsystem domain. The mis­sion of the Insti­tute is to con­duct the basic and applied rese­arch in the field of semi­con­duc­tor elec­tro­nics and phy­sics in order to deve­lop and com­mer­cia­lise inno­va­tive micro- and nano­tech­no­lo­gies and their appli­ca­tions in semi­con­duc­tor micro­elec­tro­nics, opto­elec­tro­nics, pho­to­nics and micro­me­cha­nics. 

The Institute is one of the few Polish research institution that develops semiconductor devices and systems using various semiconductor materials (silicon, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, gallium nitride, silicon carbide). The institute consist of 8 research departments concentrating on AIIIBV photonics (lasers), Silicon detectors, microelectronic components, sensors and MEMS, wide bandgap (e.g. GaN) devices, hybrid (ceramic) technologies, electronic system design, material and device characterization and diagnostics. Three of the departments include also fully equipped technological lines, enabling both scientific research and development of technologies for new devices. Unique facilities and competent staff allow the Institute to create the conditions necessary for the implementation of research results. This task is usually conducted in cooperation with the industry and the scientific community.

The largest, division of Silicon Microsystem and Nanostructure Technology maintains a research infrastructure with a well-equipped over 1000 sq.m. micro/nanoelectronics clean room. Currently it is the only centre in Poland, where fabrication of fully functional microsystems and IC’s based on CMOS/MEMS technology is performed. In parallel to research, the department undertakes a small scale, pilot production of specialized semiconductor devices for Polish and foreign customers.

The goal of the research and development activities carried out at the ITE is to provide industry and scientific communities (with special emphasize on the SME’s ) with access to advanced technology of silicon and III/V based and heterogeneous micro- and nano-devices. Thus, scope of the R&D covers broad range of technologies, from silicon photo- and radiation detectors through integrated circuits up to sensor and microsystem (MEMS and MOEMS), lasers and power devices, including integration of different technologies and devices for interdisciplinary applications. Due to the fact, that sensor technologies and sensor networks have been defined as one of the National Smart Specialization, ITE puts a strong emphasize on research in this domain, developing collaboration with national and international multidisciplinary partners, to provide Polish economy with access to advanced sensor technologies required e.g. for IoT applications.

ITE collaborate  with industrial entities, LE and SME focusing on consulting on development and application of tailored microelectronic, nanophotonic and microsystem solutions (including sensors), allowing for digitization of products and their manufacturing. In most cases the service is combined with a joint preparation of national, international or European projects. ITE, acting as a KET Technology Center and Digital Innovation Hub supports SMEs to go from lab to market to develop and produce new KETs-based products, helping companies reduce the time-to-market for new innovation ideas:

• Dissemination of knowledge on innovative solutions leading to digitization of products and manufacturing; creation of awareness, building of ecosystem;
• Finding partners and elaboration of project proposals; 
• Access to technology expertise and facilities for validation;
• Collaborative research
• Demonstration;
• Proof of concept / lab testing
• Prototype development and testing;
• Pilot production and demonstration
• Product validation / certification

Misją Insty­tutu jest pro­wa­dze­nie badań pod­sta­wo­wych i sto­so­wa­nych w dzie­dzi­nie elek­tro­niki i fizyki ciała sta­łego oraz opra­co­wy­wa­nie, wdra­ża­nie i upo­wszech­nia­nie nowo­cze­snych mikro- i nano­tech­no­lo­gii i ich zasto­so­wań w dzie­dzi­nie foto­niki oraz mikro- i nano­elek­tro­niki.

ITE is a member of the Mazovia ICT Cluster, which is a fully operational, regional initiative supporting digitization of industry (http://klasterict.pl/english-version/, http://klasterict.pl/czlonkowie-klastra/ )

Mazovia ICT Cluster consists of more than 140 committed participants (5 Research Institutions, 6 Universities and plenty of other entities including SME`s, NGO’s, investment funds and large companies). The Cluster cooperate also with Warsaw City Council, The Office of the Marshal of Mazovia and Polish Chamber of Commerce of Electronic and Telecommunication.

The region of the Mazovia Voivodship is characterized by presence of many advanced industrial entities, to large extent – foreign companies, leading Polish research centers and universities and, on the other hand, multitude of small SMEs lagging behind in digitization and in development of application of the ICT technology.

The mission of the Mazovia cluster ICT is therefore to bridge the existing gaps, supporting access of the SME and traditional industry in their access to knowledge and expertise, allowing for implementation of the modern, digital technologies. Cluster accomplishes this mission by establishing and developing cooperation between R&D and industrial entities as well as local authorities. The competence areas of the Mazovia Cluster ICT are: telecommunication, IT, industrial automatics, power engineering, GIS, Business System Solutions, Creative Industry, Smart City, Smart Grid, IoT, eHealth, Decision Support System. In each area has a front runner with the associated entrepreneurs, who cooperate closely in the new projects and the technological solutions. The mission of the Cluster and in particular, ITE being the leading RTO organization in the ICT component and systems (micro/nanoelectronics, photonics and microsystem/sensor) domains, are fully in line with the Mazovian RIS3 strategies.

The regional RIS3 specializations in the Mazovian region are defined along the societal challenges such as: Safe Food, Quality of Life, Professional services for business and Intelligent management systems, however, the ICT, nanophotonics, micro/nanoelectronics, and sensor/sensor networks, which are main domain of ITE competences, are recognized in the Mazovian RIS3 document (https://innowacyjni.mazovia.pl/dzialania/ris-mazovia.html ) as a fundamental technologies of a cross-cutting, horizontal importance for 3 out of 4 above smart specializations. It is worth to add here that the RIS3 strategy of Mazovia region has been based to large extent on a national Industrial Technology Foresight- Insight 2030 document, co-authored by ITE. Moreover, a representative of the ITE team, prof. Piotr Grabiec was a member of a Mazovian Innovation Council and member of a working group defining details of the  regional smart specialization in the Mazovian region.

In this regard, ITE, as a member of the ICT Cluster, focuses on consulting, development and application of a tailored microelectronic, nanophotonic and microsystem solutions (including sensors), allowing for digitization of products and their manufacturing, followed by joint elaboration of national, international or European projects. It has to be pointed out here also, that ITE in it’s activities as a DIH contributes to virtually all strategic goals defined in the above mentioned Mazovian RIS3 document. A special emphasize has to be put on strategic goal no.2, which refers to intensification of innovation oriented international collaboration. ITE, being one of the most successful Polish RTO in the FP5, 6, 7 and now, H2020 and ECSEL programs in the ICT component and system domain (50 EU project participation including coordination), maintains a wide network of European partners which allows to support internationalization of SMEs and thus contributing to the RIS3 strategic goals.

Importance of the ITE activity for the Mazovian RIS3 strategy has been recently acknowledged by the Region authorities who approved over 12 mln Euro grant for a Center of Nanoelectronics, Microsystems and Photonics project of ITE, in the frame of the Regional Operational program of Mazovian Voivodeship 2014-2020 (co-financed by European Regional Development Fund), to develop ITE research infrastructure.

ITE is active also at the national level, participating working group elaborating smart specializations at the national level ( KIS11, Sensors and sensor networks topic, where prof. Grabiec is a team leader). The topic is to largest extent focused on development of the IoT and Industry 4.0 applications. Basing on these experiences and taking into consideration competencies of ITE  the Institute is ready to join the Future Industry Platform ones it will be officially launched. The Platform is a national initiative for development and implementation of Industry 4.0 revolution in Polish economy, listed in https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/content/digitising-european-industry-catalogue-initiatives, at present in preparation phase. 

Market sectors

• Public administration and defence
• Education
• Manufacture of electrical and optical equipment

TRL Focus

• TRL3 - Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept
• TRL4 - Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment
• TRL5 - Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment
• TRL6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
• TRL7 - System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
• TRL8 - Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration

Services provided

• Awareness creation
• Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking
• Collaborative Researchs
• Concept validation and prototyping
• Testing and validation
• Pre-competitive series production
• Commercial infrastructure