The recent advancements in flexible electronics and soft robotics have highlighted the key role of polymers, especially in 
the form of thin films with thicknesses in the micro- and nanometer range. For example, polymeric thin films can be used 
in flexible electronic devices as both substrates and active layers for sensing or actuation. To harness the full 
potential of such materials in high-performance yet reliable devices, it is crucial to achieve a deep understanding of their 
mechanical properties, specifically at the micro- and nanoscale. Indeed, the mechanical behavior of materials at such 
small length scales can differ from that in the bulk.
Manipulation and testing of micro- and nanoscale components pose significant challenges that are difficult to address 
with standard methodologies, and thus require the development of novel, suitable platforms, such as those based on 
microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. During this seminar, novel platforms will be presented, 
specifically designed in our laboratory to determine the mechanical properties of nanoscale materials, with a special focus 
on polymeric films with large area (~ mm2) and thicknesses smaller than 100 nm.