Market Overview

MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) are made up of devices (elements) equipped with multiple functions such as sensors, actuators, electronic circuits, machine element components integrated on to one silicone substrate or a glass substrate by means of micro processing technologies.

As the MEMS process fully uses the same process as semiconductor fabrication, i.e., micro process technologies, it is characterized by small size, light weight, mass productivity, and low cost. Therefore, when a device fabrication process is shifted to a MEMS method from conventional ones, it enjoys the above-mentioned characteristics, which can generate highly competitive, attractive products in the market. In addition, if adoption of MEMS technologies can add values, such as high functionality, the products may increase attraction.

MEMS device manufacturers can be classified largely into the followings: IDMs (Integrated Device Manufacturers) that do everything in-house vertically from designing, manufacturing, to selling their devices; and foundries that are the companies specialize in contracted manufacturing. The global MEMS device market size targeting IDMs (not including foundries) based on the shipment value at manufacturers is projected to attain 1,520,500 million yen in 2022.

MEMS devices are the key to support the high added-values of diverse products in extensive areas, which include acceleration sensors used in an inkjet nozzle of a printer, automotive airbags, smartphones and game devices, and digital mirror devices that control light with a projector. When observing the market size by category in 2022, RF devices used in wireless communication for smartphones have the largest share, occupying 23.9% of the entire market, followed by pressure sensors used in automotive engines, blood pressure gauge, and barometer accounting for 13.9%, and microphones for electronic devices 10.5%.

Noteworthy Topics

Nanofiber Fabrication with Direction Controlled by Microfluidic Devices

The studies to utilize the nanometer-sized fibrous structure (nanofibers) bundled together as a string-shaped material for light-weight sturdy industrial products or for a component of an artificial biological tissue are in the spotlight. 

Controlling the direction of nanofibers is a difficult technology, but a method to control the direction of nanofibers amid the flowing path of a microfluidic device, a MEMS technology, and to bundle as a string has already been found. The resulting nanofibers, in many cases, have a characteristic of anisotropy. For example, it has succeeded in changing the anisotropy of electrical conductivity by a factor of about 30 within a string made of nanofibers. This technology can be applied to any fibrous materials, which is expected to be used for fabrication of electric or electronic materials or of complicated string-shaped structures within a living body.

Future Outlook

CAGR of the global MEMS device market from 2020 to 2025 is projected to be 10.2%, with the market size expected to attain 2,036,000 million yen by 2025.

MEMS technology has advanced dramatically during the past 50 years, making most of electronic devices, including smartphones and those in automobiles, to embed MEMS devices. While smartphones have full of cutting-edge semiconductor technologies, addition of MEMS devices has brought in multiple-functions, which resulted in the current evolution of achieving a palm-sized contraction of high-performance computers. The current society enjoys huge benefit from advancement of MEMS technology.

Research Outline