Centre of excellence for microfabrication of microfluidics in glass

Microfluidics is a recent multidisciplinary scientific field that deals with the study and manipulation of fluids in channels smaller than 1 mm. There is an increasing demand for microfluidics from industry and research groups within VUB, Flanders and Europe, especially for fast-growing medical, pharmaceutical and biotech applications. However, microfabrication of glass requires advanced techniques that are currently not available in Belgium. Yet Flanders is one of the most important biotech hot-spots in the world, and is home to many world-class pharmaceutical companies. To maintain and further strengthen this position, VUB is building a new 'open access' cleanroom that will specialise in the microfabrication of glass and silicon for microfluidics. A support of €1,462,089 is requested from 'Flemish Resilience' to realise this project in its entirety. A rapid and complete construction of the facility will also allow, within a few years, a sufficient number of users to be received so that the fees they pay for the use of the clean room will make the project self-supporting.