Micro- and Nano-mechanical systems have the potential to revolutionize Information Science Technologies (IST) by bringing  back mechanics as an essential component to information processing with completely new versatility. Already now, these systems are about to provide a broad range of novel applications with impact in a variety of fields such as life sciences, optical sciences, materials science and, eventually, quantum information science. European research has to play a central role in this exciting development. The MINOS STREP will provide future key technologies to achieve this goal.