The Microsystems Technology Program (PMT) of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe was founded in 1992 by governmental agencies. The main areas of research and development (R&D) activity are longer term development work in fundamental and precommercial research and short-term development to assist industry with the swift conversion of results into commercially viable products. The general situation of microsystems technology the objectives of PMT, the structure of the R&D program, and frameworks for cooperation with industrial partners are outlined.