This important Argentine scientist, together with her peers and collaborators, is developing a particular scientific study that will surely be used and implemented – in the not too distant future – to assist the customs service in its control tasks. This project aims to establish and put into operation a Network of National Laboratories for the design, manufacture and characterization of MicroElectroMechanical devices. Some of the laboratories of this Network (MEMS Group (CNEA), the Laser Ablation Laboratory (FI-UBA) and the Atmospheric Environmental Analysis Laboratory (UNSAM)) are already working on two integrative projects such as the electronic nose project with MEMS gas sensors, financed by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion, and another one on MEMS sensors for satellites. As a derivation of the first project, the creation of scanners or “sniffers†is proposed, which are olfactometric systems that can be used for national security in the detection of prohibited or dangerous substances.
Asked to explain what the project consists of, she explained that micro and nanotechnologies have been identified as one of the most promising technological sectors of the 21st century, with the potential to revolutionize industry and therefore the quality of life of countries that invest in this field. According to the definition of the EU Commission for the IV Framework Program, "a micro-system is a miniaturized intelligent system that integrates sensor, process and/or actuation functions. It shall comprise at least two of the following properties: electrical, magnetic, mechanical, optical, chemical, biological, magnetic or other, in an integrated manner in a single chip or in a hybrid multi-chip module." Micro-systems are also known as MEMS (MicroElectroMechanicalSystems). This project aims to establish and put into operation a Network of National Laboratories for the design, manufacture and characterization of MicroElectroMechanical devices. Some of the laboratories in this network (MEMS Group (CNEA), the Laser Ablation Laboratory (FI-UBA) and the Atmospheric Environmental Analysis Laboratory (UNSAM)) are already working on two integrative projects, namely the electronic nose project with MEMS gas sensors, funded by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion, and another on MEMS sensors for satellites. As a derivative of the first project, the creation of scanners or "sniffers" is proposed, which are olfactometric systems that can be used for national security in the detection of prohibited or dangerous substances.
Recent analyses of the MEMS market, developed by NEXUS, show that sales figures for 2003 would be in the order of 34.000 billion dollars, although to this figure should be added another 4.200 billion dollars from the marketing of new emerging products: laboratory chips, drug dosing systems, odour sensors (electronic nose), magneto-optical heads, etc.
As for which laboratories or scientific entities are participating? He explained that the Network Laboratory for the Design, Manufacturing and Characterization of MicroElectroMechanical Devices (MEMS) / "Red LabMEMS" project will create a capacity for research, development, design, manufacturing and characterization of devices and microsystems, integrating the most prominent laboratories of the Argentine Republic into a network (the CNEA, the Faculty of Engineering of the UBA and the Faculty of La Plata are participating). In this way, the vast experience accumulated by its researchers in different fields of science and technology is used to direct them towards the design and manufacturing of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) type devices and their incorporation into analog and digital integrated circuits for specific applications. In addition to the most prominent Argentine scientists, we cannot fail to mention that there is an enthusiastic group of students and young professionals in each laboratory who are the driving force behind this project and who are committed to its success from Argentina.
Asked about the degree of effectiveness and ease of use, he said that the idea is to manufacture a prototype based on a new type of MEMS that replaces traditional gaseous spectrometry equipment of the IMS type: Ion Mobility Spectroscopy. Recently, a first IMS with MEMS technology was developed, combining the advantages of an IMS device that provides high sensitivity, specificity and MEMS that provide very compact dimensions, low production costs, low consumption with the subsequent increase in portability of the olfactometric systems built (sniffer type). The IMS technology separates and detects previously ionized compounds by measuring the differential mobilities through the sensor chip. The ionized compounds are accelerated by an electric field and acquire different mobility depending on their charge state, mass and effective section. An RF and a DC electric field are applied inside the chip, choosing a certain ion for its detection and counting. All this internal processing is hidden from the operator who only has to read the detected compounds on a display. The sensitivity is very high and comparable to non-portable systems (the bibliography that can be consulted is NEXUS (The Network of Excellence in Multifunctional Microsystems) Task Force, 318 Market Analysis for Microsystems: 1996-2002, 1998, http://www.nexus-emsto.com ). Adding that it depends on the degree of sophistication and complexity of the equipment, there are portals to detect traces of substances, equipment to inspect packages, parcels, suitcases, etc... and other portable ones.
Asked about the final cost of each controller, she said that they estimate that it could cost around 20.000 dollars each unit, which is much lower than the international market price. This is mainly due to the fact that operating costs and personnel expenses are very low compared to those of developed countries where the ones currently on the market are manufactured. But it depends on the type of equipment, but international prices for “sniffers†range from 20.000 USD (portable) to approximately 200.000 USD (portal).
He was also asked if it is possible for national businessmen to support the project, in order to later be part of the production and marketing of the devices? And he firmly stated: "We are betting that this will happen since the costs are attractive and the State has already made most of the investment in the training of specialized human resources and in the first prototypes that will be manufactured."
In addition, and regarding when they think they will be able to count on a prototype for the customs service to test, or to carry out the first scientific experiments? She answered that this will depend on the initial investment that we need to move on to the stage of the new MEMS. If this is resolved at the beginning of 2004, then we could expect a first prototype towards the end of next year. She stressed that “No, there is nothing similar in all of Latin America” and even, when asked if it could be exported, she said “That is one of our objectives and we believe quite objectively that we will succeed.”
So can we say that Argentina will export high technology? Yes, certainly, but one of the most important points of this project is that we hope to train specialized human resources and inspire many of our young people who today seek better opportunities for personal and scientific development in other countries. The country is dramatically losing scientists and students in whom it has invested a lot of effort and resources and who constitute the indispensable ingredient of new scientific and technological developments. A strong investment in the scientific-technological system constitutes one of the most important ways that our country has to become competitive again in relation to developed countries and generate genuine resources from high-tech products with a lot of added value.
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