Home > Program > Keynote Speakers > John A. Parrish, M.D.

Date: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm on Sunday, Sep 04 2011

Location: Room: Salon G - Floor 4, Marriott

Talk Title: A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth:How research and innovation in ICT, miniaturisation and micro-nano-bio systems meet the future challenges for health and well being

The European Framework Program for Research, Development and Innovation has to elaborate world-class advanced research results and to contribute to the larger policy objectives of the Union. Europe has still to overcome the fragmentation of its' research landscape and to create a true integrated single European research area. It needs to invest more in innovation and manufacturing to bring research results faster to the market and has to invest in smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We should make best use of these competence Regions in Europe where knowledge in specific fields is concentrated for the benefit of the EU competitiveness at large and for the well being of the European citizens.

The first part of the presentation will address these policy objectives and the recent flagships and activities launched. The second part will go more into detail on the research activities being executed and planned in the near future in order to meet the European challenges for health, well being and assistance of aging population. In particular, we will look at how smart miniaturisation, smart integration and smart systems can contribute to a more healthy future for our aging citizens. How can miniaturisation help elderly to stay longer independent? Comfort, predictability, reliability and cost are the issues. What can we expect from the convergence of micro-nano-bio-ICT technologies and smart systems for the future personalized healthcare? What opportunities may offer the mix of different scientific disciplines, the integration of different technologies and how will this multi-diciplinarity affect the research and engineering landscape?

A holistic view on this emerging field covering research on technologies and products, manufacturing and market and business opportunities need to be considered. Examples of on going European projects and planned activities will be given and some opportunities for international collaboration elaborated.

Biography:

Dirk is an engineer in physics, in nuclear science and in material science (University of Ghent - Belgium - 1976). Before joining the European Commission he was involved in statistics and as engineering and technology manager in setting up a laboratory to sustain the design of microelectronic components and subsequently in setting up a manufacturing site in micro-electronics to produce digital, analogue and high voltage components. He was responsible for a team dealing with technology development and technology transfer between different organizations. He has joined the European Commission in 1990 where he has been responsible for research initiatives in micro-electronics under different European Frameworks (FP) for Research and for cooperation with Eureka in that field. He also was responsible for setting up the work-plan for research in e-work, e-business, e-commerce (FP5). He has started a Unit and a Program dealing with 'Integrated Micro and Nanosystems' (FP 5 and 6) including Microsystems, sensors, interfaces, displays and large area integration and for setting up the work-plan for Photonics at the start of the 7th Framework. He is now responsible for running within Directorate General Information Society the Unit of 'nano-electronics' dealing with the implementation of Framework 6 and 7 activities, with planning the future activities and with all related research, innovation stimulation and regulatory activities in these fields. He is recently nominated Executive Director - at interim - of the first public private partnership between industry, European Member States and the European Commission in the field of Nanoelectronics (The Joint Undertaking ENIAC). Owner of 2 patents and author of more than 100 articles on diverse research topics, on commercialization, on innovation and research strategies mainly in the field of micro-nano-technologies and miniaturization.