USDC Flexes its Muscles to Commercialize FPO Electronics

Flexible, printed and organic (FPO) electronics hold the promise of driving a new revolution in the electronics industry. Products as diverse as radio frequency ID tags, chemical and biological sensors, solar cell panels, solid state lighting, electro-clothing and disposable consumer electronics can all benefit from FPO technology. In fact, experts predict that some FPO-based applications could top $120 billion by the year 2020.

While the long-term future of the FPO market seems very bright, much work is needed today and in the coming years to help ensure the mass commercialization of FPO products. With that in mind, USDC launched a new initiative this past December, which is dedicated to accelerating the development and growth of the FPO industry. USDC President Michael Ciesinski will head up this new initiative and is chartered with driving industry participation, while Dr. M. Robert Pinnel will serve as interim CTO for technical activity.

With more than 30 technical projects underway or completed in the FPO field totaling $75 million in R&D investment, the USDC has amassed considerable expertise in FPO electronics. Combined with its extensive network in the investment community, academia and industry, as well as the strong position that several of its member companies have in FPO electronics, USDC is in an ideal position to drive this first-of-its-kind initiative. Facilitating this task are the substantial efforts in the FPO field that are already underway by a number of leading chemical, materials and electronics companies that the USDC has already established partnerships with, including DuPont, Kodak and Motorola. Additional organizations include the National Institute of Standards and Technology—which funded early federal initiatives programs in printed and organic electronics—and the international Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, which will be publishing a printed and organic electronics technology roadmap over the next few months.

In commenting on the initiative, Ciesinski stated, “In order to successfully enable the FPO electronics revolution, an aggressive pace of innovation must be set, resulting in a robust infrastructure and sufficient development funding and resource deployment. We intend to work with the printed and organics electronics industry, facilitating the transition from R&D to prototype manufacturing, and then to commercialization and market acceptance. USDC’s role has been to champion collaboration among industry, government and academia, as has been accomplished in the FPD arena. Now, a decade later and leveraging our proven legacy of bringing technology innovation to market fruition, we’re committed to helping the FPO industry become an analogous fixture in our everyday lives and work environments.”

Support for the new USDC initiative is rapidly gaining momentum from all corners. According to Daniel Gamota, director of the printed electronics group at Motorola, “This new USDC initiative speaks volumes for the potential market of flexible, printed, and organic electronics. USDC has a proven track record for accepting leadership roles in developing the infrastructure to facilitate the launch of emerging high-growth markets. We look forward in participating in this new initiative.”

At this year’s Flexible Displays and Microelectronics Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., USDC has added a track specific to printed and organic electronics—testament to the growing importance of the FPO market. Read “USDC Prepares for Record Turnout at Flexible Display & Microelectronics Conference” in this issue of DisplayTrends to learn more about our upcoming Flexible Displays and Microelectronics Conference, or visit www.usdc.org