NANOTEC · Nanostructured materials and RF-MEMS RFIC/MMIC technologies for highly adaptive and reliable RF systems

RF communication and remote sensing (radar/radiometric) systems are facing the demands ofincreasing complexity/number of frequency bands, increased bandwidths and higher frequencies forhigher data throughput, while at the same time the power consumption, the form factor of the systems,and the overall system costs need to be reduced. Smart micro-/mm-wave systems will have to achieveself-reconfigurable operations for real-time efficient self-optimization of their performance. For suchadaptive systems, high-performance tuning components and strategies for buildingmonolithically integrated miniaturised reconfigurable RF circuits/front-ends are highly needed.The NANOTEC project aims to generate innovative approaches towards novel RF/mm-wave systemswith increased functionality and potentially lower cost addressing future needs of European industry.NANOTEC will develop 3 Demonstrators (1: 10-24 GHz reflect arrays for aerospace, 2: 94 GHz highsensitivity front-ends for passive imaging and 3: 140 GHz radar front-ends for active imaging) with advanced functionalities based on enabling technologies and via monolithic integration of highperformance RF-MEMS switches in GaN/SiGe IC foundry processes. NANOTEC will aim toimprove reliability of RF-MEMS by using NANO structured materials and to demonstrate addedvalueby employing the proposed GaN/SiGe MEMS-ICs for 10-140 GHz applications. Theemergence of European sources (SiGe/GaN MEMS-IC foundries) will play a key role towardsincreasing the availability of RF-MEMS TEChnology and related products (thus shortening the timeto-market). If successful, NANOTEC will also lead to improved safety/security thus creating novel business opportunities/jobs for existing/new companies in Europe. The NANOTEC consortiumconsists of 17 partners (7 countries) including European stakeholders in the field of communications,avionics, space and security.