MicroTCA (Micro Telecommunications Computing Architecture) originated from telecommunications hardware and was formally introduced by PICMG in October 2011 as a standard describing a new class of modular computer systems. MicroTCA.4 is an enhancement of this open standard and was developed by DESY and several other research institutes and industrial partners.
MicroTCA.4 has rapidly evolved to become a viable standard for demanding applications in large-scale research facilities e.g. particle accelerators, high-energy physics, plasma fusion sources, etc. But also industries with a keen interest in compact, cost-efficient and reliable computing performance (e.g. medical technology and industrial process control) are currently evaluating MicroTCA.4 as an alternative.