In the first year of the project, the consortium successfully upgraded roll-to-roll technologies for high-throughput manufacturing of microfluidic systems and began aligning the individual processes with each other.

The resulting platform offers a wide range of technologies for processing photopolymers and thermoplastics on film substrates. In addition, biomolecules can be printed at high resolution using the world's first roll-to-roll microarray spotter for foil-based microfluidics. All these unique facilities are combined in an Open Innovation Test Bed.

Microfluidics Innovation Hub

The new Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH) will bundle the unique capabilities of the Open Innovation Test Bed partners. In this way, MIH offers its customers central access to the complete value chain for the development and manufacture of microfluidic systems with foil-based components. This offering helps accelerate the demonstration of exciting new scientific breakthroughs towards a working prototype, and beyond into mass manufacturing. In parallel with technical development, MIH can provide its customers easier access to venture capital.

In addition, MIH will offer funded innovation projects through an Open Call, giving customers outside the consortium the opportunity to collaborate with the top microfluidic service providers from Europe. Projects submitted and approved in the Open Call will be financially supported through the NextGenMicrofluidics project. The Open Call will be launched in mid-2021.

For further information, please visit the NextGenMicrofluidics Website or contact Martin Smolka.