The Fondazione Bruno Kessler and Centre for Scientific and Technological Research (FBK-irst, former ITC-irst), is a non-profit body with a public interest mission having private-law status, with nearly 30 years of research activities in information technologies, micro-systems, and physical chemistry of surfaces and interfaces. FBK collaborates with industry, universities, and public and private laboratories in Italy and abroad for research projects and R&D activities. Personnel at the centre consist of around 220 researchers, nearly half of which are permanent employees. The Microsystem facilities of FBK, established in 1991, has become one of the national reference points for the research and the development of Silicon integrated microsystems and related technologies for MEMS and microsensors. The availability of a microfabrication facility (250 mq Clean Room) as well as the related design, modelling and testing capabilities allows the in-house development of a variety of micron-size devices ranging from Silicon integrated microsensors, biosensors and BioMEMS to custom designed ASIC-CMOS.

Main tasks

FBK is the lead participant of the WP4 aimed at the development of the Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) diagnostic Lab-on-Chip (LOC). In this framework, FBK activities regard the development of new Lab-on-Chip microelectronics technologies.

Previous experience relevant to those tasks

FBK first has been involved in national and EU research projects concerning Microsystems. In particular FBK is involved in FP6 Integrated Projects GOODFOOD and NETCARITY (IST Priority).