For the fifth time, the OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association) has announced the winners of its annual demonstrator competition. Five projects were awarded during LOPEC, the exhibition and conference for printed electronics in Munich – including a flexible printed loudspeaker and a sensor-poster that measures the air quality.
 
Innovative concepts illustrating the capabilities of organic and printed electronics are recognized with the demonstrator awards. It is supposed to open new perspectives to end-user industries as well. “We received remarkably interesting demonstrators in automotive, packaging, lighting and functional surfaces,” OE-A Chairman Dr. Stephan Kirchmeyer said. He already spoke in high terms of the professionalism of the projects last year. “This time they have again increased professionalism.“ That also reflects the maturity of the industry.
 
For the 10-member jury consisting of representatives of international companies and institutes, judging was not easy. They had to rate 19 demonstrator projects in four categories. For the first time, LOPEC visitors also had a voice. At the OE-A booth where all demonstrators were on display they were allowed to choose their favorite demonstrator.
 
During the LOPEC Dinner the awards were presented in the five following categories:
• Best Prototype / New Product: 3D-Touchslider – Heraeus Deutschland GmbH (Germany)
• Best Freestyle Demonstrator: Piezoelectric Transparent Loudspeaker – CEA Liten (France) – Piezotech Arkema (France)
• Best Publicly Funded Project Demonstrator: Gas Detecting Safety Labels – AP3le consortium, funded by the European Union (CTP - France; CEA - France; VTT - Finland; Felix Schoeller - Germany, Varta Microbattery - Germany)
• Best Design Concept: Luminescent Scaffolding Wrap – Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology, Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
• Public Choice Award: Wine Tester – CETEMMSA (Spain)
 
“The presentations in this year’s start-up forum showed very interesting technology approaches and product ideas,” said Dr. Peter Fischer, LOPEC Business Conference chair, OE-A Board Member and chief product officer of Thinfilm. “This clearly shows that an important impetus for the industry comes from the ranks of start-ups. That is what we want to promote with the awards.”
 
A jury consisting of international industry leaders and researchers determined the winners. Two awards were presented:
• Most Impactful Technology/Product: Robert Even, ClearJet, 3D-Copper Ink (Israel);  Dr. Patrick Galliker, Scrona, Inkjet-Printing at the Nanoscale (Schweiz).