Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is presenting the second Displaying Futures Award to foster young entrepreneurs. The aim of this year’s call for proposals is to identify flexible applications in the field of hybrid electronics. The number of ideas submitted rose from 31 to 69, submitted by creative minds from 22 countries.
 
The 10 best teams gathered for the event to pitch their ideas in Darmstadt on June 23, 2017. The winning teams have devoted themselves to future-oriented technologies, such as wearable biomonitoring devices, soft robotics, electronic sensors or packaging. The Displaying Futures Award is again worth a total of US$ 150,000.
 
“We’re highly impressed by the second round of the award,” Dieter Schroth, who initiated the award and is responsible for innovative liquid crystal applications in the Display Materials business unit, said.
 
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, did not look for start-ups that had already been launched, but searched for teams from university or institutional settings.
 
The following three ideas were rewarded:
• FloPatch from KE2 Technologies, Canada, is a disposable wearable patch for the non-invasive real-time monitoring of blood flow based on ultrasound technology.
• Tangi0 from the United Kingdom is a materials-based platform technology that replaces complex electronic sensors with one flexible touch-sensitive material combined with smart software algorithms, producing 3D controls that are ergonomic, intuitive and engaging.
• Texavie from Canada has developed a nanofiber sensor technology for thin and lightweight sensing skin used in patches or smart textile.