Virtual Engineering, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Energy Recuperation (ER) have already revolutionized several industries through innovations and new products development. These fields are in focus of investigations and investments.
The innovation and national strategies of Republic of Bulgaria give new directions and active stimulation for scientific achievements implementation, new technologies and development of the innovation potential for reaching high economic growth and sustainable development by a dynamic knowledge-based economy.
A field for development that contributes to innovation process acceleration are the virtual engineering technologies – “CAx” or CAD/CAM/CAE technologies for three dimensional development, modeling, research and simulation.
This is also valid for micro world in high level. Its scale differences of dimensions lead to immense and even principal differences in the physical behavior, parameters and mutual influence of products and systems. They include application of hybrid micro systems with electronic components as well as electric and mechanic components. The micro technology is not only based on miniaturization of existing systems, but also allows creation of new engineering conceptions that use technology convergence (for example nano, micro, bio, geo, optical cognitive technologies, microelectronics and engineering requirements for their application). This leads to next generation of new or innovative products and services with high added value and adaptation to the changing industrial needs.The field of virtual engineering and simulations is in creation of innovative products and Laboratory “CAD/CAM/CAE in Industry” has leadership in Bulgaria with more than 15 years experience of their application and development for research and industrial purposes.
The Centre scientific team is experienced in design and modeling, simulation and optimization of micro systems as well as systems for energy recuperation in the field of micro actuators and micro sensors, as well as in systems for energy recuperation by mechanical accumulators. MEMS elements, with focus on electronic components, are developed in Laboratory “ECAD” in Technical University Sofia. MEMS actuators for American partner are designed and optimized in Laboratory “CAD/CAM/CAE in Industry”. Mechanical micro systems are developed also in BAS – Institute of Solid Body Physics “Acad. G. Nadjakov” and section “Sensor systems and modeling” in the Institute for Control and System Research.
Generally, a lot of projects are developed in the last few years in Bulgaria, having priority micro/nano technology and especially in physics, chemistry and electronics. Project participants are one of the leading specialists in this field in Bulgaria.
The field of energy recuperation system by mechanical accumulators (kinetic and potential) is developed in MTF, Technical University Sofia (team leaded by prof. V. Jivkov) member of the Centre team. Two projects and several PhD thesis have found their application in transport machines, developed by this team. These projects are realized before already more than 10 years. Currently, the interest in energy recuperation is increasing very fast in the context of energy efficacy. This necessitates to activate researches and development of the necessary research infrastructure that is one of the proposed Innovation Centre targets.
Generally, the scientific fields of the project, Bulgarian researches and especially in Technical University Sofia, have good traditions, but meanwhile, nevertheless their international actuality, they are not developed in adequate level. It is expedient to activate this field because of the expected immense effect over the science and industry in Bulgaria.