Challenges in commercializing MEMS

Several microelectromechanical systems have achieved commercial success. The barriers can still be formidable, though, and the path to success is often much different for MEMS than it was for mainstream semiconductors. Maturing software for comprehensive modeling and design will help in the future. The entire field of MEMS has been enabled by the batch fabrication methods established in the semiconductor industry. We cannot predict the market success of MEMS based products, however, by blindly applying the economy of scale and other economic models governing semiconductor markets. Although the parallels are both undeniable and enabling, the successful MEMS venture today is likely to be one that focuses on differences from, rather than parallels with, mainstream semiconductor markets. It is essential to recognize that the main challenges in commercializing MEMS-on both the business and technical levels-are different from the classic semiconductor problems.