Under the guiding theme „Inside Life – Engineering our Future“ brought the by IVAM Association for Microtechnology The IVAM Hightech Summit organised international experts from micro and nanotechnology, life sciences, MedTech, photonics, sensor technology, and industrial applications.
The location couldn't have been more fitting: The CORPUS Congress Centre with its iconic architecture surrounding the human body, offered a unique backdrop for technologies that delve deep into biological, medical, and industrial processes; from BioMEMS and Microfluidics About Photonics up to intelligent sensor systems, AI-powered analytics, and scalable production.
The TechnologieZentrumDortmund was with the MST Factory Dortmund and our centre manager Christoph Gehlen On-site, we were able to demonstrate what makes the Dortmund microsystems technology location special: specialised infrastructure, laboratory and cleanroom environments, short distances between technology development and application, and a network that supports start-ups and companies in developing marketable solutions from technological ideas.
The thematic breadth of the summit was particularly striking. Micro- and nanotechnology were not just considered niche topics but as a central foundation for many future fields: diagnostics, medical technology, life sciences, photonics, quantum technologies, smart sensors, regulation, IP, market access, and industrial scaling. It is precisely this connection between research, application, and market that makes the field so exciting and shows how relevant the work of MST Factory Dortmund for upcoming innovation processes.
The exchange with familiar faces from Dortmund's high-tech ecosystem was also particularly valuable. The encounters in Leiden have once again shown how strongly Dortmund is positioned in the field of micro- and nanotechnology. Specialised companies, technological depth and a network that has an impact far beyond the location. International formats such as the IVAM Hightech Summit are all the more important to make this strength visible together, to forge new contacts and to further position Dortmund as a high-performing high-tech location.
Thank you to IVAM - the Association for Microtechnology for the strong organisation and to all participants for the open, inspiring exchange in Leiden. We are taking many impulses back to Dortmund and look forward to ... MST Factory Dortmund to continue shaping the future of micro- and nanotechnology.
