How can one stay on top of and get involved in the latest work in MEMS? Can someone elaborate on the difference between licensed software for MEMS multiphysics

How can one stay on top of and get involved in the latest work in MEMS? Can someone elaborate on the difference between licensed software for MEMS multiphysics simulation like Comsol vs open source software simulated collaboration? Have open fab tool projects been helpful in creating equipment that could help amateurs do more scientific research at this scale? How could one attempt to experimentally validate Drexler's latest proposed 3d printer design with x-y-z axis photosteppers? [1] (Slide 14) Silicon atom mechanosynthesis experiments have succeeded, but it seems there is not enough funding for direct to DMS experiments with pico-stabilized tooltips. Would it not be a good use of a billion dollar fund to experimentally research the DFT-simulated diamondoid minimal tooltip set? [2] --- [1] https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/06/f33/Keynote%20presentation%20-%20Drexler.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/06/f33/Keynote%... [2] http://www.molecularassembler.com/Papers/MinToolset.pdf http://www.molecularassembler.com/Papers/MinToolset.pdf