To bring together relevant engineering, analytical and biomedical expertise in Austria and bridge existing “research-to-product gaps” in microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip systems and organ-on-a-chip technology – that is what the Austrian Microfluidics Initiative (AMI), launched by TU Wien in 2017, is aiming at. The initiative is supported by BioNanoNet, its strategic positioning is implemented by Austrian universities and industrial partners. The spokesperson for the Austrian Microfluidics Initiative is Prof. Peter Ertl, also of TU Wien.

Exchange – implementation - support
The Austrian Microfluidics Initiative envisions becoming the partner of choice in all aspects of microfluidic project research and development, thus providing the scientific community and industry with a common platform for:
 
(a) direct technological exchange,
(b) rapid implementation of project ideas
(c) continuous support opportunities.

The mission of the Austrian Microfluidics Initiative is to provide technological expertise and know-how ranging from microfluidics design and simulation, and rapid prototyping and assay miniaturization to small and large-scale production of microdevices with the aim of:
 
(1) promoting scientific collaboration between industry and academia
(2) supporting technology transfer activities
(3) offering education and training.  

The main objective of the Initiative is to turn research ideas into functional prototypes and the realization of successful commercial products by reducing development cost and timelines. Relevant expertise offered by the Austrian Microfluidics Initiative ranges from simulation, materials science and manufacturing technologies to bioassay optimization, biochemistry, biotechnology and biomedicine, as well as industrial standards and regulatory requirements.

Symposium on Austria Microfluidics
Today, February 28, the first Austrian Microfluidics Initiative (AMI) symposium takes place at TU Wien. Key players of/to the Austrian microfluidic community with established competences in modelling, manufacturing, and miniaturizing fluidic analysis as well as implementing functional microfluidic processes are introduced, current R&D projects, technological capabilities and industrial applications as well as translational activities in Austria are featured. The forum targets to initiate communication between industrial device manufactures, biotech/ diagnostic companies, non-academic research organizations, academic researches and medical professionals as well as funding agencies and governmental representatives.

During the symposium, awareness activities for the Rare Disease Day 2019 also take place. The challenges of developing new therapies and diagnostics for "Rare Diseases" are addressed in many different research activities, on national as well as on international level.

Date: Thursday, February 28th, 2019 – all day event
Location: TUtheSky – Getreidemarkt 9, TUW 1060 Vienna
www.microfluidics-austria.at, opens an external URL in a new window