Chihuahuan Frontier

Microelectromechanical Systems

Applied Technology and Scientific Research Center

Centro de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología Aplicada
CICTA

Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez


CICTA’s mission:

1. Undertake research and development projects on micro- and nanotechnology with a focus on the needs of companies with operations in Chihuahua and Northern Mexico

2. Provide high-technology services to the local industry on:

• MEMS prototype design and analysis
• New product design
• Product/process optimization
• Specialized consultancy
• Advanced testing and characterization
• Personnel training
• Technology transfer/integration

3. Create the foundations for a high-tech business incubator

4. Patent development on micro- and nanotechology

5. Spawn spin-off businesses by its own reserachers, technicians and students.

CICTA

The Applied Technology and Scientific Research Center [CICTA] was created to support the local industry with micro- and nanotechnology development projects, innovation and technology transfer.

The technology base in Juarez is made up basically of the following industries: automotive, telecommunications, robotics, biomedicine, aerospace/military, IT, appliances and consumer products.

Drawing from decades of experience in light manufacturing and automotive processes, the Juarez industrial base is increasingly turning to higher-techologies, design and R&D.

In order to provide these companies with specialized high-technology services and training, the Juarez Autonomous University created CICTA.

CICTA is part of a consortium called Red MEMS-México, or Mexico MEMS Network, designed to develop joint innovation and technology transfer projects.

In a second stage of the national MEMS program, network members plan to undertake manufacturing and testing of Mexican-designed MEMS prototypes.

Among potential beneficiaries of CICTA’s efforts in the Juarez area are: Delphi Automotive Systems, Cementos de Chihuahua, Grupo Injecto, Lexmark, Visteon, Scientific Atlanta, Johnson Controls, Thomson, ADC de México, Cherry Corporation and Cordis de México.

In addition to design centers already working in Juarez as those by Delphi and Valeo, other companies with operations in the State as Thompson, Scientific Atlanta and Siemens have plans to or are already setting up their own design and technology development centers.

These design centers are going to demand support and specialized services. CICTA is commited to provide those services.  

Specialized training for Mexico MEMS Network members has been administered by the United States-Mexico Foundation for Science and supported by U.S. institutions as the Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexican universities, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Albuquerque Community College, the Texas Christian University, and the university system of Texas in Arlington and El Paso.

Training has also been sopported by MEMS design software firms Corning IntelliSense, MEMScAP and Coventor.

The center works closely with Mexico MEMS Network members, the Centro de Investigación de Materiales Avanzados [Advanced Materials Research Center], Centro de Articulación Productiva MEMS [MEMS Productive Articulation Center], Sistema de Inteligencia Tecnológico Empresarial en MEMS [MEMS Business Technology Intelligence System], as well as foreign institutions working with the Network.