Heriot-Watt University, University of South-Eastern Norway and Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Heriot-Watt University in Scotland

Heriot-Watt University (HWU) provides the fundamental concepts of smart systems during the first semester, giving courses from a programme awarded the Eurotraining Quality Label. Practical work will take place in the cleanroom for the students to learn and practice photolithography, a fundamental process in microfabrication for manufacturing of MEMS and sensors. Other labs such as laser machining and 3D printing will be used to support the study of alternative methods for the manufacturing of smart systems. Computer-based design and simulation labs are provided to support the learning of theory and principles of sensors and actuators using an industry standard software package (COMSOL Multiphysics). Practical labs on sensor networks will be used to support the taught course material on IoT. HWU was designated fifteen years ago as a EU Centre of Excellence in Micro-actuators under the EU ESPRIT programme. This body of experience will be used in the delivery of the course on Sensors, Actuators and IoT.

University College of Southeast Norway

University College of Southeast Norway (HSN) will provide the teaching and laboratory work in silicon-based microsystems, thus complementing the first-semester teaching and lab work at HWU. It will also provide the smart system specialization in the second semester, where the students choose a specialization in Micro/Nano Biological Systems (MNBS) or in MEMS Design. MNBS combines competence in MEMS technology, in bioengineering and in microfluidic systems for use in biomedical applications, whereas MEMS Design goes deeper in the design of physical sensors & actuators, building on the knowledge obtained in the first semester at HWU. The extensive laboratory work in the second semester is carried out in the state-of-the-art research laboratory “MSTLab” at HSN, being one of three nodes of the Norwegian Micro- and Nanofabrication Facility, with national leadership in system integration technologies.

Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary

The fundamental knowledge base gained in the first two semesters gives the basis of the third semester’s curriculum at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The backbone of the course contents at BME is ensured by the 15-year experience on microsystems design and characterization, and most recent H2020 project activities on the field of Cyber-physical Systems. BME advances the continuous academic partnership with Mentor Graphics, Cadence, National Instruments and ANSYS, the key providers of state-of-the-art design tools in Smart Systems Integration. The CAD laboratories at the department are equipped with the latest editions of these design suits and ready to use for the SSI students. Students may also have access to the key design and manufacturing infrastructures at BME.

Summer School in Hungary

The Summer School prior the third semester is an exceptional opportunity for current and graduated (Alumni) students to meet and getting to know each other’s work and also provides feedback for the programme. The five days professional programme is held in Hungary, at Lake Balaton as the most visited tourist destinations of Hungary. Presentations of “state of the art” by academic and industrial experts in Smart Systems Integration are given, and also workshops with industry (the associated partners EPoSS and NCE-MNT, as well as other collaborating industry partners). In the summer school, our second-year students present their newly finished master projects.