Program » Industrial Stage

An exciting opportunity is available for exhibiting and sponsoring companies eager to contribute more to the Conference on the Industrial Stage!

These 20 minute presentations should focus on issues of broader interest to this large audience, such as:
  • Scientific and technological challenges which have/ had to be solved
  • Design and application-related solutions in product development
  • Experiences learned in transitioning scientific results to a commercial product
  • Manufacturing solutions for microfluidic-enabled products
  • Market experiences
  • Performance of microfluidics-enabled products in comparison to conventional solutions
Each presentation will be listed on the website and in the Conference program.

Exhibiting companies interested in participating should complete the contract on page 5 of the Exhibitor/Sponsorship Prospectus.




Participating Companies




Presentation Schedule

Monday, 14 October

Industrial Stage 1a
Title: LAB TO FAB: STREAMLINING MICROFLUIDIC TRANSITIONS FROM PDMS PROTOTYPES TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Affiliation: HiComp Microtech
Presenter: Jing Chen
Time: 12:25 - 12:45
Show Description Hide Description
Emerging from the foundational discussions highlighted in the seminal 2012 publication, 'Engineers are from PDMS-land, Biologists are from Polystyrene', our industry has witnessed a paradigm shift. Today, the integration of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in biological applications has grown, yet the transitioning from lab-scale PDMS prototypes to commercially viable polymer products presents ongoing challenges. We will discuss innovative strategies to streamline this transition, focusing on maintaining the precision and scalability of microfluidic technologies. Key topics include overcoming material compatibility issues, scaling production effectively, and ensuring cost-efficiency. A case study on utilizing PDMS in liquid biopsy will illustrate practical applications and underscore our strategies that streamline the transition from "Lab to Fab". Join us to explore how these methodologies can propel your microfluidic projects from the lab bench to market readiness, setting new industry standards in life sciences.


Industrial Stage 1b
Title: MASTERING AND AUTOMATING FLOW CONTROL FOR CELL CULTURE
Affiliation: Fluigent
Presenter: Joseph Farah
Time: 12:45 - 13:05
Show Description Hide Description
Current solutions for cell culture experiments can be cumbersome and are mostly designed for microfluidic experts. Stable delivery of liquids to microfluidic systems is essential for their reproducible functioning, especially when supplying flows to organs-on-chips. Sustain a Unidirectional recirculation of medium while maintaining a constant flow rate for a long period of time (> 7days) represents a key challenge that if addressed benefit a better production of the microphysiological behavior of organs.


Industrial Stage 1c
Title: MICRO 3D PRINTING APPLICATIONS IN MICROFLUIDICS
Affiliation: Boston MicroFabrication (BMF)
Presenter: Dan Tucker
Time: 13:05 - 13:25
Show Description Hide Description
Building microfluidic devices by hand is labor-intensive, requiring several hours. Current methods face challenges: laminating involves a complex multi-step process, injection molding is costly and time-consuming, and soft lithography limits complex 3D channels. Designers need channels with diameters under 100 microns and high aspect ratios. Polymers are favored for their biochemical performance and cost-effectiveness, but application-specific polymers that resist high temperatures and are biocompatible are essential. Micro 3D printing offers promising solutions for microfluidic device prototyping and production, providing small channels, fine features, and tight tolerances. Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL) achieves resolutions of 2-50 microns and tolerances of +/- 10-25 microns, making it ideal for microfluidic applications. This presentation will explore how micro 3D printing, particularly PµSL, addresses these challenges, offering a faster, more precise solution for microfluidic device production.


Industrial Stage 1d
Title: BIOSENSORS FOR LAB-ON-CHIP APPLICATIONS
Affiliation: X-FAB MEMS Foundry GmbH
Presenter: Oliver Foellmer
Time: 13:25 - 13:45
Show Description Hide Description
As the demand for cutting-edge lab-on-chip applications continues to grow, XFAB is proud to offer a versatile technology platform that seamlessly combines microelectronics with optical, electrochemical, and mechanical sensors. This platform enables the tight integration of these sensors with CMOS chips, allowing for the multiplexing and sophisticated postprocessing of highly sensitive signals. Leveraging our extensive expertise in well-established technologies like photolithography, etching, and bonding, we further enhance our solutions by integrating silicon wafers with microfluidic layers made from materials such as glass or biocompatible polymers. This innovative approach paves the way for the development of smart, fully integrated lab-on-chip devices. We invite you to join us as we showcase our silicon and glass-based solutions and highlight successful applications that demonstrate the potential of these advanced technologies.


Tuesday, 15 October

Industrial Stage 2a
Title: HOW MICRONIT EMPOWERS CLIENTS TO INNOVATE WITH MICROFLUIDICS, FROM CONCEPT TO PRODUCTION
Affiliation: Micronit
Presenter: Marko Blom
Time: 12:00 - 12:20
Show Description Hide Description
Explore how Micronit, a leading contract development & manufacturing partner, leverages its microfluidics expertise to help clients innovate across diverse applications. During this session, learn how Micronit transforms existing workflows into state-of-the-art lab-on-a-chip devices and provides capabilities for cleanroom-based manufacturing.

  • Industry Insights: Marko Blom, CTO of Micronit, will showcase how the synergy of microfluidics and microfabrication creates devices and cartridges with varying integration levels, tailored to specific markets and applications.

  • Technologies: Discover the latest possibilities in fluid loading and transport, precise metering, efficient mixing, and advanced sorting techniques.

  • Capabilities: Gain insight into Micronit's 200 mm wafer-based cleanroom, where prototyping and large-scale production of glass, silicon and polymer consumables and components take place.

Join this session and learn how Micronit's microfluidics and microfabrication expertise can drive your innovations in multiomics, cell analysis, diagnostics, drug manufacturing, and drug delivery fields, from concept to production.


Industrial Stage 2b
Title: DIVE INTO THE FUTURE OF MICROFLUIDICS WITH BLUE OCEAN TECHNOLOGIES
Affiliation: Blue Ocean Technologies Inc.
Presenter: Alexandros Sklavounos
Time: 12:20 - 12:40
Show Description Hide Description
Blue Ocean Technologies, a Canadian Contract Research Organization, is dedicated to transforming your R&D challenges into groundbreaking innovations. Join our session to discover how our innovative approach to digital microfluidic device microfabrication breaks away from traditional cleanroom constraints, significantly reducing costs and increasing production flexibility.

In our session, we will explore:

- Device Customization: We provide unlimited customization options for device footprints and electrode designs, tailored to meet your specific application’s needs.
- Reagent Deposition: We offer precise liquid deposition for on-device reagent storage.
- Ease of Integration: We ensure seamless integration of inlet ports and sensors, expanding the capabilities of your existing systems.

Let's discuss how Blue Ocean Technologies can transform your ideas into reality with flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, all backed by over a decade of expertise in microfluidic systems. Additionally, learn how our Sci-Bots retail division offers ready-to-use, plug-and-play solutions, seamlessly integrating advanced digital microfluidic technologies into your workflows.


Industrial Stage 2c
Title: MICROFLUIDIC CARTRIDGE DESIGN FOR SCALABLE, COST-EFFECTIVE DIAGNOSTIC INNOVATION
Affiliation: Vital Biosciences Inc.
Presenter: Miguel Joao Marques Barreiros
Time: 12:40 - 13:00
Show Description Hide Description
Vital is developing innovative diagnostic products that require novel microfluidic cartridges. This presentation will highlight the company's strategic approach to microfluidic cartridge design, which enables a broad panel of tests while maintaining cost-effectiveness. From the outset, Vital has integrated scale-up considerations, moving from rapid prototyping with CNC milling to injection molding for high-volume production⁠1⁠. The company's methodology balances cutting-edge design with practical manufacturing requirements, resulting in efficient and reliable diagnostic solutions. By seamlessly integrating these microfluidic platforms with instrument and assay development efforts, Vital aims to deliver advanced diagnostic capabilities across multiple applications, including hematology, immunoassays, and general chemistry.⁠


Wednesday, 16 October

Industrial Stage 3a
Title: MICRO AND ELECTRONICS 3D PRINTING FOR LIFE SCIENCES AND MEDICAL DEVICES
Affiliation: Nano Dimension
Presenter: Jasmin Zeyn
Time: 12:15 - 12:35
Show Description Hide Description
Micro additive manufacturing enables the printing of super small parts with very high accuracies and tiny features going down to microns. This technology is a driving force in the development of a variety of medical devices & life science research and development.

Additively Manufactured Electronics (AME) are directly printed electronic components making it possible to create completely new products. We generates entire circuits in one step -- including substrate, conductive traces, and passive components.

This presentation will provide a brief review and use cases of Micro Additive Manufacturing technology and Additively Manufactured Electronics.

Applications include a wide range of medical devices, manufacturing microfluidics (molds, drop generator etc.), molds for micro-contact printing of biological materials and more.


Industrial Stage 3b
Title: GLASS MICROFLUIDICS – HARVESTING THE POWER OF WAFER LEVEL MANUFACTURING FROM PROTOTYPING TO LARGE VOLUME MANUFACTURING
Affiliation: IMT Masken und Teilungen AG
Presenter: Tobias Bauert
Time: 12:35 - 12:55
Show Description Hide Description
Microfluidic flow cells made of glass are key components in various applications due to their chemical inertness, inherent hydrophilicity, and excellent optical properties. Despite clear indications to use glass for flow cells, some programs either delay or avoid switching to glass, impeding progress and occasionally causing project failures. The reluctance to work with glass is based on misconceptions about manufacturing costs, the benefits of hybrid devices, and the lack of knowledge regarding the integration and utilization of glass flow cells. These misconceptions will be addressed and a comprehensive guide for transitioning to glass flow cells will be provided, from single prototypes to large-scale production.


Industrial Stage 3c
Title: SCALABLE SILICONE-BASED MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES
Affiliation: DBM Medix
Presenter: Anuthasan Balasingam
Time: 12:55 - 13:15
Show Description Hide Description
Silicon-based microfluidic devices have become central in numerous biomedical/biotechnological applications due to their biocompatibility, optical clarity, moldability, and chemical stability. Owing to its flexibility and ease of implementation at small scales, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based devices have been the preferred option amongst researchers and early-stage industries. However, these types of devices have struggled to be adopted commercially despite its vast capabilities and applications, simply because the methods used to produce PDMS-based devices are not scalable nor reproducible at high volumes.

Determined to change this narrative, we have developed solutions to produce silicone-based microfluidic devices at large scales through a range of technological development and optimization at DBM Medix. The ability to precisely control our process parameters allows us to fine-tune the mechanical properties of the silicone, thus maintaining the quality and reproducibility of the complex structures within the silicone pieces.

We invite you to this session to learn more about the potential ways DBM Medix can resolve key challenges with silicone-based microfluidic devices to drive implementation of your technology in the market.