The European Sensor-Systems Cluster (ESSC)

ESSC is the European Cluster on Sensor Systems supported and launched by EC at Brussels, 27 November 2014.
The main objective of the ESSC is to join efforts in order to avoid defragmentation and to promote synergies with industrial leadership and European cooperation in the field of the research and innovation of sensor-systems applications.
ESSC will allow the involved projects/actions/initiatives to be more productive, competitive and successful to maximize a broader social and industrial impact.

Objectives

• Maximize cooperation between projects (avoid duplication and improve efficiency)


• Identify common interests in on-going research and development (e.g. open calls, training)


• Provide a forum for discussion, problem solving and analytical planning R&D activities in Europe


• Establish the EU-wide meeting platform for researchers, industry and end-users


• Remove commercialization barriers to ensure EU leadership in sensor technologies


• Integrate inputs and recommendations from other existing clusters or groups


• Promote connection with external bodies


• Disseminate sensor-related issues/findings to stimulate awareness for the invisible environmental problems and support citizen science

Vision

• Environment and health, including air and water quality, food safety and medicine, pose various challenges to achieve a sustainable development in Europe and worldwide. Collecting information on the status of the environment or the health of an individual is typically the first step to the desired improvement and, thus, sensor systems play a key role to address these challenges. In spite of considerable research efforts over the last decades, sensors and sensor systems to collect and evaluate (bio)chemical information are still not available for many applications, either due to lack of sensitivity, selectivity or stability (3S).


• The European Sensor Systems Cluster (ESSC) will identify technical or non-technical challenges for (bio)chemical sensing and highlight opportunities resulting from nanotechnology, microsystems integration, advanced data evaluation, their manufacturing, commercialization and systemic integration. ESSC will mobilize a pan-European network, ready to advice, assist and execute the national or international measures leading to strengthened position of European Research and Innovation.

Technological Challenges

The ESSC will address the following technological challenges in the field of a full value chain from functional materials, devices, systems, technologies to smart sensor-systems integration:

• Improved 3S (Selectivity, Sensitivity, Stability) and More 3S of Sensors and Sensor-Systems


• Functional Materials for Advanced 3S Sensors


• Miniaturization and Integration


• Integration to Systems

Particular challenges of ESSC for R&D and commercialization:

• Indoor Sensing


• Environmental Sensing


• Biosensors


• Chemo/Bio Sensors for Liquids


• Modelling and Simulation


• Analytical Tools and Metrology


• Standardization and Regulation


• Business Models and Spin-offs

WGs List

The ESSC is mainly based on six Working Groups (WGs) coordinated by a Leader:

• WG1: Environmental Sensors


• WG2: Indoor Air Quality (Sensors)


• WG3: Health Monitoring and Comfort Sensors


• WG4: Monitoring of Industrial Processes


• WG5: Integration and Commercialization


• WG6: Dissemination and Outreach