David Savastano, Editor04.07.20
Although LOPEC 2020 was canceled this year due to COVID-19, the OE-A was going to celebrate a unique anniversary – its 10th annual OE-A Competition, which is held during LOPEC. The competition honors innovative products, demonstrators and prototypes that show the promise of printed and flexible electronics.
It is interesting to look back at the past 10 years and see what has been selected as some of the top projects.
“The OE-A Competition illustrates the potential of the organic and printed electronics technology as well as fostering cooperation among its members,” said Klaus Hecker, managing director of the OE-A. “Over the years, quite a number of demonstrators and prototypes presented in the OE-A Competition have been further developed to products.”
For example, this year’s honorees are:
“In the beginning, the competition showed more feasibility studies and combination of different printed electronics components to first systems on a rather technical level,” he observed. “Over the years, this developed more and more towards prototypes and even products.”
Hecker noted that some examples of recent OE-A competitions that are in the market include:
It is interesting to look back at the past 10 years and see what has been selected as some of the top projects.
“The OE-A Competition illustrates the potential of the organic and printed electronics technology as well as fostering cooperation among its members,” said Klaus Hecker, managing director of the OE-A. “Over the years, quite a number of demonstrators and prototypes presented in the OE-A Competition have been further developed to products.”
For example, this year’s honorees are:
- Best Prototype / New Product - ActiSense – Smart Footwear Sensor - IEE;
- Best Freestyle Demonstrator - Flexible, Segmented OLED Panel - OLEDWorks;
- Best Publicly Funded Project Demonstrator - OPV Façade - Heliatek
“In the beginning, the competition showed more feasibility studies and combination of different printed electronics components to first systems on a rather technical level,” he observed. “Over the years, this developed more and more towards prototypes and even products.”
Hecker noted that some examples of recent OE-A competitions that are in the market include:
- Smart labels with NFC and sensors by Schreiner.
- Organic photodetector arrays by ISORG.
- OPV facades by Heliatek.
- Lighting packages with el , OLED, or led by Karl Knauer.
- Printed batteries and smart patches by Enfucell.
- Hybrid Electronics Battery Connection Components for automotive applications by iee .
- Curved and 3D shaped touch sensors integrated in plastic covers for automotive and white goods by PolyIC.
Among the honorees, Schreiner has been implementing its RFID tags in numerous applications, most recently in the medical field. Karl Knauer's lighting projects have been seen on Bombay Gin boxes and Coca-Cola bottles, among others. Enfucell's smart patches have been successful in helping China control the COVID-19 pandemic. PolyIC's curved sensors appear on Bosch appliances, among others. IEE's products are found in countless products, including seat belt sensors.
Honorees say they are honored to receive the award.
"We are thrilled by this award. It shows the great potential of organic solar technology for integrations solutions that enable totally new applications for solar power generation in building structures," Guido van Tartwijk, CEO of Heliatek, said upon receiving this year's award.
Honorees say they are honored to receive the award.
"We are thrilled by this award. It shows the great potential of organic solar technology for integrations solutions that enable totally new applications for solar power generation in building structures," Guido van Tartwijk, CEO of Heliatek, said upon receiving this year's award.
