Understanding CANEUS

WHAT IS THE CANEUS ORGANIZATION?
CANEUS is a non-profit organization that caters primarily to the needs of the aerospace community by fostering the coordinated, international development of Micro-Nano-Technology (MNT) for aerospace applications. As a "hands on" organization, CANEUS is focused on the practical aspects of transitioning MNT rapidly and efficiently into aerospace systems. To achieve this goal, CANEUS brings together a network of MNT developers, aerospace end-users, governmental policy makers, and investors from across Canada, Europe, the United States, and Japan.

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WHAT IS THE CANEUS 2004 CONFERENCE?
The CANEUS 2004 Conference and Workshop is the world's premier international forum devoted to MNT development for aerospace applications. The CANEUS organization and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), in partnership with the Centre for Large Space Structures and Systems (CLS3) and NASA, are creating the CANEUS 2004 conference to facilitate the transitioning of aerospace MNT from a mostly low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) stage to system-level implementations. International partnerships aimed at creating MNT-based aerospace products will be established.
[Conference Profile]

WHY CANEUS?
The CANEUS Organization has developed three main strategies to meet its goal of rapid development and commercialization of MNT-based aerospace systems and to overcome widespread impediments. The CANEUS 2004 Conference is a major initiative that will implement these strategies. Following are the strategies and tactics as outlined by the CANEUS Organization:

1. Make optimum use of complementary knowledge, skills and technologies.
The most effective high-level aerospace systems of the future will be those that can combine complementary, "best-of-breed," basic technologies and that draw on the most relevant expertise, wherever that expertise can be found. It may be, in some cases, that the best MNT are to be found in different labs in different countries. Working in isolation, however, is now the rule; international collaboration is the exception. Few real-world examples exist of beneficial international collaboration in MNT at the system level. Although many may recognize the opportunity, no one has created a way to seize it.
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2. Arrange for end-to-end financing for international projects while finding "work-arounds" that overcome restrictive regulations.
If a group of international researchers decide to work together on an MNT project leading to a high-level aerospace system, there is now no straightforward way to arrange for project funding. Moreover, some governments have established regulations that create legal obstacles to international projects that are difficult to overcome.
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3. Right from the earliest stages of an MNT project, obtain critical input from users to ensure that it focuses on high priority, "real world" needs.
Given the existing way that system buyers and funding agencies "shop" for new technology, they cannot hope to be aware of the wide array of new MNT technologies now under development in different labs and the potential those technologies have to be shaped into components that could vastly improve their current systems. A more efficient transition from early-stage MNT research to the best possible aerospace systems requires fundamental change, change that would respond to the needs of investors and users. [Click for more details]