For RAK, the little things matter

RAS AL KHAIMAH // The emirate best known for its worldwide exports of bathroom fixtures and porcelain tiles is now seeking to turn its copious sand resources into something more intricate.

It aspires to establish a foothold in the emerging business of making tiny electronic components with moving parts.

Known as mems, an acronym for micro-electromechanical systems, these encompass a huge variety of micro and nano-scale devices, mostly based on the same kind of silicon-chip technology found in computers. Some of the better-known mems include the microphones, pressure sensors and gyroscopes found in popular electronic devices such as mobile phones.

Increasingly they are also incorporated in the silicon-based photovoltaic units used to harvest sunlight and turn it into electricity, an area in which Ras al Khaimah's Government is especially interested.

Abu Dhabi's renewable energy programme is "gold", while Ras al Khaimah's is "sand", said Dr Hamid Kayak, a resident of the emirate who is also the chief UAE delegate at the 17th World Micromachine Summit being held in Ras al Khaimah this week.

The UAE is the only Arab country represented at the gathering of delegates from 22 nations.

Dr Michael Gaitan, the group leader at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, said the mems industry was in its infancy compared to the computer and information technology sectors.

The evolution of the microprocessor towards mobile applications fit naturally with the aims of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, an international body guiding the semiconductor industry, he said.

Mems also hold promise for integrating the complex energy networks required to capture and distribute increasing amounts of low-carbon energy from sources such as the sun, wind and ocean currents.

Dr Gaitan said the development of such initiatives would be greatly aided by international and industry-wide co-operation, an effort that has largely eluded the microchip sector for proprietary reasons. Mems could be different. Due to their integrative potential - something from which most electronics manufacturers stand to benefit - Dr Gaitan is hopeful increased collaboration will be achieved.