Context. The development of new intelligent transport systems (ITS) is of prime importance in many industrial countries so as to improve road safety and reduce the total number of fatal accidents. Many current on-board or embedded ITS equipments are considered as comfort systems; they must evolve towards active safety systems. Indeed, it is considered that 90% of road accidents involve human factors. In this context millimetre-wave automotive radars play a crucial role for adaptive cruise control, brake assistance or blind spot detection. The currently-available systems offer limited capabilities, and new antenna configurations must be invented to comply with the wide diversity of new end-user specifications; the latter are more and more stringent and deal with many different road scenarios for short range, medium range and long range detection. General objective and market. The major objective of the MM-Scan project is to develop a very innovative ultra-compact antenna architecture for automotive active safety systems at millimetre waves. This architecture will complying with end-users requirements and account for all technological PCB fabrication constraints in order to provide a final demonstrator compatible with already-available industrial manufacturing processes. The target market is quite narrow today (about 50000 radars a year), but the growth expectation is very high and new solutions must be invented by anticipation. Partnership, Dissemination and Exploitation of results. This MM-Scan project is coordinated by IETR (Institut d’Electronique et de Télécommunications de Rennes, UMR CNRS 6164) and is accompanied by Bretagne Valorisation. The corresponding antenna concepts have been patented by the University of Rennes 1. Pilot studies carried out in 2009 and 2010 have demonstrated successfully the relevance and performance of simple antenna breadboards. Our major technical objective is to conduct further studies to design, optimize, fabricate and characterize a final demonstrator. This prototype is ultra-compact (double-folded configuration) and will produce multiple beams for short range, medium range and long range radar systems covering the 76-81 GHz band using one single sensor. The expected results are far beyond the state-of-the-art. This demonstrator will be the key element for the dissemination and exploitation of the results (technology transfers, patent licensing, new industrial partnerships, opening towards new commercial markets in telecommunications, defence or aeronautics, etc.).

FIR-MED project aims to valorize the joined work performed for more than 10 years by Glasses and Ceramics Laboratory at Rennes University (Laboratoire Verres et Céramiques –UMR CNRS 6226) and by the Iron and Liver team (Equipe Fer et Foie U991 – INSERM, Rennes University Hospital Pontchaillou) in order to develop analysis using Fiber Evanescent Wave Spectroscopy (FEWS) in the mid infra red area. The mid infrared waveband (wavelength between 2 and 14 µm) includes most of the spectral signatures of biological molecules such as glycogen, lipid, proteins… FEWS analysis allows to get a comprehensive biological signature of a sample. Scientific publications confirm that tumors or pathological situation can be identified using ex situ infra red spectroscopy in most of human tissues or serums (colon, esophagus, stomach, lung, brain, skin, breast, cervix, prostate, bone…). The main limitation to IR spectroscopy development is the lack of a sensor to perform such analysis in situ and/or in vivo. Such a sensitive and compact sensor has been developed by LVC and its partners. Its design and manufacturing process have been patented (patent pending). This sensor leads us to consider FEWS as powerful IN VIVO or IN SITU DIAGNOSIS TOOL, providing a comprehensive metabolic “fingerprint” of a biological element. In regard of most current validated clinical procedures, including biochemical, histopathological, hematological and bacteriological ones that are performed on samples obtained by puncture, biopsy or a surgical procedure, FEWS benefit for the patient is twofold: 1 – It will be a minimally invasive procedure, with less risk, by removing for instance the one induced by the lesion created during a biopsy excision procedure. 2 – FEWS gives an immediate result, by canceling the need to ship and analyze the sample in a remote location; Therapeutic measures can be then implemented at once, allowing a precious time gain, in the case of an acute infection development in synovial liquid. Tests are in progress to validate these points, funded by local government and EU. Within the ANR emergence program, we aim to lift the last scientific barriers that prevent manufacturing a commercial product, i.e.: 1 – Make sure that we can have a robust process to manufacture a glass that can guarantee the sensor performances and safety for the patient 2 – Define the hardware and software elements that will be used in the design of the downstream dedicated spectroscope. 3 – Demonstrate that FEWS can not only be a credible equivalent to current validated clinical procedures, but that it can provide an early diagnosis for a lighter, and cheaper, therapeutic action. We will work on hepato-gastroenterological applications. In addition to Bretagne valorization, the Technology Transfer Office of Rennes University, some experienced individuals, issued from the glass and medical industry, have joined the project in order to create in the future a company that develop, manufacture and sell a medical device based on this technique.