International agreement provides Australian and Canadian researchers with a broader network of fabrication expertise, more opportunities for collaboration, and access to advanced design capabilities.

The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) and CMC Microsystems (CMC) have signed an agreement which promises to increase opportunities for international collaboration, and to provide clients of both networks with easier access to world-leading expertise and equipment.

The broad-ranging agreement brings these organisations together in their shared objective of enabling the creation and application of micro and nanotechnologies, by providing access to infrastructure and expertise.

ANFF users will be provided with a framework to access CMC’s medium- to large-scale fabrication capabilities which will assist with the commercialisation of Australian research. CMC will also leverage its knowledge, expertise and server software developed over the past two decades to replicate its computer-aided design (CAD) service for use by researchers in Australia.¬†By use of scalable Cloud-based computer servers and exclusive licensing arrangements with CAD tool suppliers, this special engagement will augment CMC-managed infrastructure for users of ANFF.

In return, CMC clients are provided with mechanisms to harness ANFF’s world-leading micro and nanofabrication expertise and equipment which complements, broadens and enhances its existing offering.

Both organisations offer training, consultancy, and direct access to equipment required to design and fabricate new technologies, or parts can be produced on a fee-for-service basis. ANFF provides industry and academia with more than 100 micro and nanofabrication experts and 500+ related tools within Australia, while CMC facilitates access to more than 500 tools and 25 fabrication services for micro/nanotechnology design and development through Canada’s National Design Network¬Æ (CNDN) which includes 10,000 academic participants and 1,000 companies developing innovations in micro and nanotechnologies.

“The capabilities of the ANFF are a strategic complement to the activities of our network,” said Gord Harling, President and CEO of CMC. “Working together, we can increase our offerings and can create new opportunities for researchers to collaborate and innovate.”

“This agreement will bring the process development and research talents of both the ANFF and CMC staff closer together as they strive to meet the challenges provided by an international user group which is pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible,” Dr Ian Griffiths, ANFF CEO, said.

‚ÄúWith a quantum science sector erupting out of Sydney, and with new MEMS, medical, sensing and optoelectric technologies being developed within ANFF’s locations across the Australia, this is the perfect time for us to strengthen international ties with world-leaders in the field of enabling commercialisation such as CMC,‚Äù Dr Griffiths concluded.

If you would like to find out more about how to benefit from this agreement, please contact jane.fitzpatrick@anff.org.au or harling@cmc.ca.

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