The two groups have signed a memorandum of understanding undertaking that they will bring people and information together to promote the greater commercial use of MEMS and MEMS-enabled technology. GSA's newly-formed MEMS working group, co-chaired by Louis Ross, president, CEO and chairman of Virtus Advanced Sensors and Maarten Willems, CMORE business director at IMEC, will work with MIG on various events and initiatives.

The first event under the initiative is a panel session on MEMS being held at the GSA & IET International Semiconductor Forum on Thursday (May 12).

"With an increasing number of semiconductor players entering the MEMS field as a potential high-value/high-growth market opportunity, it is pivotal that GSA provides a neutral forum for semiconductor companies, their suppliers and end customers to discuss pressing issues within the MEMS supply chain and establish an efficient and integrated ecosystem," said Jodi Shelton, president of GSA, in a statement. "With MIG’s strong presence in MEMS and GSA's global reach, our organizations complement each other well and we're very pleased to officially form an organizational alliance."

"Increasing the greater commercialization of MEMS requires information exchange among the IC and MEMS communities," said Karen Lightman, managing director of MEMS Industry Group, in the same statement.