The smallest sensors such as microphones and ultrasound sensors play an important role as sensory organs of technology. As a 'digital ear', they record acoustic signals and enable rapid investigations. The aim of the 'Listen2Future' research project is to bring the smallest micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS sensors) into series production at globally competitive costs and to make them available for a variety of applications in industry and medicine. The research is intended to produce higher image resolutions for ultrasound probes, robust miniature hearing aids with first-class sound quality and low energy consumption. The focus is also on portable ultrasound patches, for example for the early detection of heart disease, and ultrasound devices for rapid infection checks in infants. In industry, continuous quality control of materials and intelligent monitoring of the energy infrastructure are to be implemented.

The smallest MEMS microphones ensure perfect sound quality with low energy consumption in hearing aids and hearing probes, in smartphones or hands-free devices. In medicine, ultrasound is one of the most common examinations and is used in pregnancy monitoring, thyroid, liver and heart examinations. Industry uses ultrasound to 'hear' friction, vibrations and damaged areas. This makes it easier and quicker to locate problems in maintenance and predictive maintenance. However, the devices still have their limitations: they do not work equally well in every frequency range, only provide snapshots and are often large and expensive.

The research team is therefore working on small, piezoelectric ultrasonic sensors and microphones based on innovative, flexible thin-film materials. Using new materials and sensor concepts, the electronics should provide more precise signals and images and deliver a better sound experience, as well as being stretchable and flexibly adaptable while consuming little energy. The research covers the entire development chain - from materials, design, signal processing, assembly and connection technologies, software developments and artificial intelligence algorithms to miniaturized and integrable system solutions.

The 'Listen2Future' project - Acoustic sensor solutions integrated with digital technologies as key enablers for emerging applications fostering Society 5.0 - will run for three years and has a project volume of around 30 million euros. It is financed by investments from industry, funding from the individual participating countries and the European Union's KDT-JU (Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking) program.

27 partners from seven countries

The participating companies reflect the interaction between science and industry, materials, semiconductors, electronics and medical technology, research and software development from all over Europe:

• Austria: Infineon Technologies Austria (project management), Silicon Austria Labs, GE Healthcare Austria
• Belgium: Pulsify Medical, IMEC Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum
• Czech Republic: Vysoke Uceni Technicke v Brne, Ustav Teorie Informace a Automatizace av cr VVI, Institut Mikoelektronickych Aplikaci SRO
• Germany: Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung, Codasip, Infineon Technologies, Infineon Technologies Dresden, Inoson, Path Medical, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Technische Universität München
• Netherlands: Solmates, Sonion Nederland, Universiteit Twente
• Norway: Elliptic Laboratories, Sintef, Sonitor Technologies
• Spain: Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Dasel, New Born Solutions, SMD Inductor de Analgesia, Universidad de Granada