Japanese National Initiatives, Future Outlook

The year 2001 signaled the end of Japan’s Micromachine Technology Project (MTP), and the beginning of a new era in Japanese development of microand nano-technologies and systems. When launched in 1991, the MTP initiative influenced the landscape of MEMS and microsystems technologies not only in Japan but in the rest of the world as well. One of the most powerful industrial nations in the world had identified micromachines, MEMS, and microsystems as a critical technology for decades to come, and it had committed significant resources to ensure Japan's leadership in this emerging field. Therefore, the panel was especially interested in evaluating the contributions and accomplishments of the MTP initiative, the lessons learned, and the impact that it not only has had during its 10-year existence, but also that which it will have on future Japanese national initiatives in various fields of science and technology.