Collaboration

Partnerships for research, development, and technology transfer – from collaborative projects to tailored innovation solutions.

About SAL

Insights into SAL’s mission, values, research activities, and contribution to Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

Listen2Future

Listen2Future developed innovative, miniaturized microphones and ultrasonic sensors for use in industrial and medical diagnostics. Silicon Austria Labs led the development of high-performance acoustic MEMS transducers, such as PMUTs and PMICs, for medical imaging and digital industrial applications.

Modern microphone with a glowing blue light on a table, surrounded by digital light points and futuristic effects in an atmospherically lit environment.

Project goals

The project aimed to:

  • Develop next-generation MEMS acoustic transducers (microphones & ultrasound sensors) with higher performance
  • Enable miniaturized, low-power, and cost-efficient sensor systems for medical and industrial use
  • Integrate AI algorithms and dedicated hardware for real-time, intelligent signal processing
  • Bring new sensor technologies to high-volume production and strengthen European industry leadership
  • Demonstrate applications in health & wellbeing (e.g., diagnostics, wearables) and digital industry & energy
  • Support the transition toward a more digitalized “Society 5.0” through advanced sensing solutions
  • Scale micro-electro-mechanical sensors to high-volume, cost-competitive production and enable their use across industrial and medical applications

 

During the project a high-performance broadband PMUT leveraging multiple vibrational mode shapes, together with its PDK (Process Design Kit), were developed to target advanced medical imaging applications. In parallel, air-coupled PMUTs and piezoelectric microphones (PMICs) were developed, supported by advanced characterization methodologies for applications in consumer electronics and digital industries.

Project
facts

Title: Acoustic sensor solutions integrated with digital technologies as key enablers for emerging applications fostering Society 5.0
Program: EU Chips Joint Undertaking (CHIPS JU) / Horizon Europe – Digital, Industry and Space
Financing: Co-financed by the European Union (Grant no. 101096884) with additional national funding from the participating countries; total budget approx. €30 million
Duration: February 2023 – January 2026
Website: Listen2Future

Listen2Future Podcast

Listening to the Future – a podcast showcasing how cutting-edge acoustics and MEMS technologies are shaping the future of healthcare and industry, featuring expert opinions, practical application examples, and exciting insights into innovative research.

Similar Projects

Discover more projects with similar focuses and technologies.

EMI Clean Conver­ters

Elek­tro­ma­gne­ti­sche Störungen früh­zeitig erkennen statt kost­spielig nach­bes­sern: Mit unserem Simu­la­ti­ons­frame­work können EMV-Risiken bereits während der Entwick­lung leis­tungs­elek­tro­ni­scher Systeme bewertet und mini­miert werden….

Aeromic

As part of the project, innovative wall-mounted microphone sensors and ultra-thin sensor arrays were developed to measure pressure fluctuations on aircraft surfaces, both in the wind tunnel and during flight tests….

FAMES

The FAMES pilot line is a cooperative initiative under the European Chips Act to develop advanced 10 nm and 7 nm FD-SOI technologies for innovative semiconductor applications. It brings together European partners to foster a freely accessible manufacturing ecosystem. Within the project, SAL is developing self-biased magnetic circulators intended for integration into the 22 nm FDX FD-SOI technology provided by CEA-LETI….

Contact

Business Development
Lisa Kainz MA
Business Development Microsystems
Graz
Project Manager
Dr. Tingzhong Xu
Senior Scientist, Piezoelectric Microsystem Technologies
Villach

Newsletter

Our Science & Stories newsletter provides the latest news, bietet aktuelle Neuigkeiten, Forschungshighlights und spannende Einblicke
von Silicon Austria Labs – direkt ins Postfach.