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5D NanoPrinting · Project

3D Nano-Printing System for Custom Micro-Devices Like Cochlear Implants and Sensors

manufacturingPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)
5dnanoprinting.eu

Imagine a 3D printer, but instead of making plastic toys, it prints objects a thousand times thinner than a human hair — complete micro-machines with moving parts, sensors, and smart materials baked right in. Traditional methods for making these tiny devices are painfully slow, expensive, and limited to flat shapes. This team built a laser-based printing system that can create complex 3D micro-devices in one go, using specially designed materials that respond to light, temperature, or pressure. Think of it as going from chiseling stone tablets to having a desktop printer — but for the micro-world of sensors and implants.

By the numbers
EUR 3,583,800
EU contribution to the project
8
consortium partners
4
countries involved (AT, IE, IT, NL)
12
total project deliverables
4
demo deliverables including proof-of-concept devices
The business problem

What needed solving

Making tiny mechanical and electronic devices (MEMS/NEMS) today requires expensive cleanroom facilities, months of design-fabrication cycles, and is mostly limited to flat 2D structures. Companies that need custom micro-devices in low volumes — like patient-specific cochlear implants or specialized multi-axis sensors — face prohibitive costs and timelines. There is no equivalent of desktop 3D printing for the micro/nano world.

The solution

What was built

The project built a multi-photon 3D printing system capable of fabricating complex micro/nano devices, along with a proof-of-concept MEMS cochlear implant. They also developed custom functional materials (conductive, stimuli-responsive, structural) compatible with two-photon lithography, and demonstrated an integrated fabrication-testing system with Laser Induced Graphene capability.

Audience

Who needs this

Cochlear implant and hearing device manufacturers seeking patient-specific designsMEMS sensor companies needing rapid prototyping of complex 3D geometriesMicro-fabrication service bureaus wanting to offer 3D nano-printing capabilitiesUniversity and corporate R&D labs developing next-generation micro-devicesMedical device startups exploring custom implantable micro-systems
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical devices
enterprise
Target: Cochlear implant and hearing aid manufacturers

If you are a medical device company dealing with the high cost and long lead times of custom cochlear implants — this project developed a proof-of-concept MEMS cochlear implant fabricated by two-photon 3D printing. The system allows rapid prototyping of patient-specific implant geometries without retooling, potentially cutting development cycles from months to days. The consortium of 8 partners across 4 countries validated this approach with functional prototypes.

Precision sensors and instrumentation
mid-size
Target: MEMS sensor manufacturers and calibration companies

If you are a sensor company struggling to prototype multi-axial nano-force sensors with complex 3D geometries — this project built a multi-photon fabrication-testing system that prints and tests micro-sensors in one integrated setup. Instead of outsourcing fabrication to expensive cleanroom facilities, you could iterate designs in-house. The system supports graded structural, conductive, and stimuli-responsive materials in a single print run.

Semiconductor and MEMS foundries
mid-size
Target: MEMS/NEMS rapid prototyping service providers

If you are a micro-fabrication service provider losing clients because traditional lithography cannot produce arbitrary 3D structures — this project created a multi-parameter fabrication-testing system with extended capabilities including Laser Induced Graphene. The technology enables true 3D micro-device prototyping that standard 2D cleanroom processes cannot match, opening a new service category for low-volume, high-value custom devices.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access or license this nano-printing technology?

The project was funded with EUR 3,583,800 in EU contribution under a Research and Innovation Action (FET Open). Licensing terms are not specified in the available data. As FET Open projects produce foundational IP, licensing would likely need to be negotiated directly with the coordinator, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.

Can this technology scale to industrial production volumes?

The technology is explicitly designed for rapid prototyping and low-volume, high-value production — not mass manufacturing. The project objective states it targets production of customizable devices and low numbers of high-added-value devices such as cochlear implants. Think R&D labs and specialty manufacturing, not high-volume assembly lines.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license it?

IP from this RIA project is governed by Horizon 2020 rules, meaning each partner owns the IP they generated. The coordinator is Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Italy, and the consortium includes 8 partners across 4 countries. Any licensing discussion should start with the coordinator or the specific partner whose technology is relevant to your application.

How mature is this technology — is it ready for my factory floor?

The team delivered a proof-of-concept MEMS cochlear implant and a working multi-photon fabrication-testing system. These are lab-validated prototypes, not production-ready equipment. Based on the deliverables, the technology is at an advanced prototype stage suitable for collaborative R&D or co-development, not plug-and-play deployment.

What materials can this system print with?

The project developed custom functional materials polymerisable via two-photon process, including graded structural materials, conductive materials, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and nanomaterials. One deliverable specifically demonstrates Laser Induced Graphene capability. These are specialized research-grade materials, not off-the-shelf consumables.

Is there regulatory data for the cochlear implant application?

Based on available project data, the cochlear implant was developed as a proof-of-concept integrated device. No clinical trial data or regulatory filings are mentioned in the deliverables. Medical device companies would need to conduct their own biocompatibility testing and regulatory pathway work (CE marking, FDA approval) before any clinical use.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 8 partners across 4 countries (Austria, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands) is heavily research-oriented: 5 universities and 2 research organizations, with only 1 industry partner and zero SMEs (12% industry ratio). This signals deep scientific capability but limited commercial readiness. The coordinator, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, is a major Italian research foundation. For a business looking to adopt this technology, expect a co-development relationship rather than a turnkey solution — you would be among the first to bring this from lab to market.

How to reach the team

Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Italy — contact through the project website or CORDIS portal

Order a report on this consortiumSee FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the 5D NanoPrinting team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right researcher for your specific application — whether cochlear implants, micro-sensors, or custom MEMS prototyping.

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