Our strategy

HIGHLIGHT

The CEA is taking part in constructing the Minatec centre that is scheduled for inauguration in june 2006. The three sectors (teaching, research and industrial development) in Minatec will group nearly 4,000 people in Grenoble in 2006, thus forming the leading European and major worldwide centre devoted to micro and nanotechnologies.

An artist's impression of Minatec of the actual view of the Grenoble site. © CEA

As the European leader in micro and nanotechnologies, the CEA groups together fundamental research and technological innovations serving industry, to develop intelligent, miniaturised solutions in the fields of information, communication and health. It is a founding member of the Minatec project, the leading European centre in this sector.

• Microelectronics is the "driving force" for micro and nanotechnologies, with a major challenge: component miniaturisation. CEA research also covers microsystems, integrating electronics and mechanics (MEM - microelectromechanical) or electronics and optics (optoelectronic). The CEA also plays a part in integrating these technologies with other systems (e.g. flat screens, smart devices, medical imagery, etc.).
• Boosted by its expertise in biology and microelectronics, the CEA plays a major role in nanobiotechnologies and particularly biochips: "DNA chips", devoted to analysing the genome; "laboratories-on-a-chip" for rapid, miniaturised in vitro diagnosis and "cell chips", microsystems used to analyse living cells and handle them individually.

Our partners

Micro and nanotechnologies cover a vast R&D and applications area and for this the CEA works with the best universities and industrialists. Two examples:

• The CEA signed a four-year R&D contract (2004-2007) on nanoelectronics with Alliance Crolles 2, an Isère-based group of the three world leaders in semi-conductors - STMicroelectronics, Philips and Freescale Semiconductor (subsidiary of Motorola).
• In nanobiotechnologies, the CEA launched the NanoBio centre of excellence with the University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble. The CEA also works with the Evry Genopole, the worldwide leading centre in genomics and post-genomics. Lastly, the CEA coordinates the Nano2Life European network of some dozen countries.

Figures & research resources

the CEA employs around 3,500 researchers, engineers and technicians in micro and nanotechnologies. The CEA Laboratory of Electronics and Information Technologies (LETI), with its staff of 900 and 8,500 m² of clean rooms, is one of the largest European centres in applied electronics research.

CEA divisions

• Technological Research Division (DRT)/CEA Grenoble
• Life Sciences Division (DSV)/CEA Grenoble
• Physical Sciences Division (DSM/CEA Grenoble and CEA Saclay)

MORE INFORMATION

• Access to the Technological Research Division website.
• Access to the LETI website.
• Access to the Minatec website.
• Access to the Life Sciences Division website.