An Open Platform Concept for Boosting Innovation and Commercialization of Lab-on-a-Chip
Jens Ducree,
Professor of Microsystems,
Dublin City University
Despite a tremendous boost of innovation, many microfluidic “Lab-on-a-Chip” technologies still struggle to arrive at the widespread commercial success that has already been heralded back as far back as the 1990s. As they often address smaller niche markets, Lab-on-a-Chip technologies often fail to tap into economy-of-scale effects which are vital for reaching high Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) at costs (per device) that are acceptable within a competitive landscape. By adopting lessons from other, technologically rapidly advancing, mature industries like automotive or electronics, we propose an open platform approach based on sharing a standardised architecture including a library of geometrically parametrized, designed-for-manufacture fluidic modules, simulation and characterization tools to stimulate the formation of multi-party supply chains including foundries and services. System integrators can thus focus on honing their unique selling points (USPs) based on their key enabling intellectual property, e.g., in terms of the assay, reagents, transduction schemes, to substantially accelerate and de-risk their product development path.
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