innovation showcase : business innovation case studies : Regional Innovation Strategy

Japanese electronics giant Hitachi have developed a microchip so minute, researchers are struggling to find a suitable application for it. The new chip is an incredible 60 times smaller than the company’s Mu-chip – a relative giant at 0.4mm across – but can store the same quantity of information.

The new RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) chip measure just 0.05mm across, giving the appearance of a grain of powder. Small enough to be embedded invisibly in paper, the chip stores data which can be retrieved using a special reading device.

The technology itself is already in use. The London Underground’s Oyster card system uses RFID chips to track passenger information and pay-as-you-go details for example. RFID chips are also used in concert tickets to prevent forgery.

As yet though, it is still unclear just how the new Hitachi microchip will be used.

www.businessinberkshire.co.uk/innovation

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