A technology roadmap for MEMS devices is expected to come out of the co-operation which was announced during the second annual Nexus meeting being held in Brussels today (November 21) and tomorrow.

MIG is a North American trade association, and Nexus is an industry network that supports microsystems activities in Europe.

The transatlantic co-operation is expected to be made up of a number of joint or complementary projects.

The first result of the partnership is to be the establishment of a North American user and supplier club, MIG said. In addition, MIG said the two organizations would work on a global study of commercialization issues in the MEMS and microsystems industry, including the tracking of industry statistics and the development of a technology roadmap.

"The MEMS industry has been searching for new ways to bring buyers and sellers together, and the MIG/NEXUS partnership is the first step to meet that need," said Henry Clement, MIG's managing director, in a statement.

"The proposed collaboration between NEXUS and MIG will help strengthen the bridge between the micro and nanotechnologies from across Europe and the USA," said Gaetan Menozzi, director of major programs at Memscap SA and chairman of the Nexus steering committee, in the same statement.

MIG did not comment on how the two organizations propose to interact with MEMS companies and organizations in other global regions.