MEMS in the Spotlight with Sandia's spinoff "MEMX"
Source/Type: News - Staff reports

October 5, 2000... Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processing technology has been waiting backstage, in the wings, for many years. It has direct applications to next generation optical switching applications, thus it is especially exciting news that Sandia National Labs is making what they term "a bold and important move" to push MEMS into the commercial spotlight. Many compound semiconductor industry players have MEMS processing in their strategic plans. While the term "MEMS" is primarily used in the US, in Europe the reference is "microsystem technology" and in Asia "micromachines." The devices produced merge computation with sensing and actuation to essentially change the way we perceive and control the physical world.

Sandia is spinning off the core of their impressive MEMS work into a stand-alone commercial startup called "MEMX." The new company's CTO will be headed by none other than Sandia's MEMS guru and primary catalyst, Paul McWhorter and will be headquartered in Albuquerque, NM. Joining McWhorter in the MEMX initiative are Sandia researchers Jeff Sniegowski, Sam Miller, and Steve Rogers. Sniegowski and Rogers developed the five-level MEMS technology. MEMX was organized by TMA Ventures of Denver, Colo., an enterprise specializing in the commercialization of high technology. Sherman McCorkle, president of Technology Ventures Corporation of Albuquerque, also played an instrumental role in the founding of the company and Michael McIntosh and Patti Pickell of TMA Ventures will join McWhorter as the company's startup management team. In addition to this being a smart move for Sandia all the way around, note that MEMX is a brilliant name as it phonetically tells what it does, and the four letters make an obvious Nasdaq stock symbol (which is currently is not taken). Those who want or need background information on MEMS are referred to the entire Sandia press release which carries complete details, and Europe's EMSTO website has excellent background information on MEMS developments, worldwide.

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