PIONEAR project holds 4th General Assembly meeting in Buchs, Switzerland

The PIONEAR consortium successfully convened for its 4th General Assembly Meeting from April 1–3, 2025, hosted by the IMP Institute at OST Campus in Buchs, Switzerland. The event brought together 19 participants from 7 consortium partners to share progress, discuss challenges, and outline future directions for the ambitious research project.

The meeting was structured across three days, each with a specific focus:

Day 1: Project coordination and dissemination

The assembly began with an Executive Board meeting addressing project management, coordination, and dissemination led by the Coordinator, Per Grön. Discussions included updates on periodic reporting, deliverables, milestones, and risk assessments. Afterwards, accelCH provided an overview of communication and exploitation activities, along with planning and risk evaluation for future efforts.

Day 2: Technical Work Package updates

The second day focused on technical progress across several work packages:

• Design and fabrication of the membrane and acoustic chamber, led by OST, emphasizing progress and potential challenges.
• VCSEL design, fabrication, and processing, presented by Ł-IMIF, TUL, and VIGO.
• Microphone assembly and packaging using microtransfer printing, led by UCC.
• Device design, digital signal processing, and acoustic performance testing, led by LUM.

Each session included progress updates and fruitful discussions to address technical challenges and opportunities.

Day 3: OST Facilities tour and collaboration discussions

The final day featured a tour of OST’s advanced laboratory facilities, providing partners with firsthand insight into the institution’s research capabilities. Two collaborative discussion sessions facilitated by the Coordinator, allowed partners to align their goals and define priorities for the coming months.

The meeting was an essential step forward in the PIONEAR project, strengthening collaboration and setting the groundwork for upcoming milestones. Stay tuned for further updates as the consortium continues to advance innovative research in microtechnology, photonics, and advanced microphone systems.