Two new reports are out highlighting the growing market for nanotech's big brother, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). MEMS is the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common silicon substrate through microfabrication technology. Micro is the next level up in scale from nano; one hundred nanometers equals one micron, and one micron equals one millionth of a meter.

"Focus on Technical and Scientific Challenges to Successful MEMS Commercialization" by the MEMS Industry Group, includes MEMS industry statistics survey with results and analysis, a MEMS product technology barrier matrix, "lessons learned" based on interviews with MEMS industry veterans, and an in-depth paper review detailing challenges to successful MEMS commercialization.

Total sales in the MEMS market reached $5.4 billion in 2006 and will grow to over $7 billion in 2007, according to Yole Development research firm.

Meanwhile, another report, "Mems4Mobile 06: Updated Analysis of the Applications and Markets of MEMS in Mobile Communications", by Research and Markets, suggests that the MEMS mobile phone market alone will reach $550 million in 2008 and $750 million in 2009.

According to their report, MEMS devices incorporated into cellphones include silicon microphones, 3D accelerometers, gyroscopes for camera stabilization and GPS, microfuel cells, and biochips for personal weather stations and health care monitoring.

If your cellphone can already do all this with the help of microtechnology, imagine what it will be capable of when it incorporates nanotechnology. (photo courtesy of memsnet.org)