The Race Is On For Top Printed Electronics Awards
By Dr. Peter Harrop
IDTechEx
The printed electronics industry is a fast-growth sector with global activity and exciting new developments occurring in printed, partially-printed, organic, and thin-film electronics markets. IDTechEx will highlight the developments in this field and recognize the efforts of the companies involved at the IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA Awards taking place in San Francisco on Nov. 13, 2008.
The IDTechEx Printed Electronics Awards recognize company innovation, success and development. The award ceremony will be held at the industry’s largest gathering - Printed Electronics USA in San Francisco, Nov. 13-14, bringing together companies from around the world.
The Awards are hosted by IDTechEx, an independent global research leader on the development and application of printed and potentially printed electronics.
The judging panel is made up of independent experts including Vivek Subramanian, associate professor, Berkeley University; Bill Milne, director, Centre for Advanced Photonics & Electronics, Cambridge University; and Peter Harrop, chairman of IDTechEx.
There will be five awards presented to the companies that have made the greatest progress in the development of materials, products, devices, manufacturing and commercialization of printed, organic or thin film electronics markets.
A company can enter one or more of the following categories:
1. Technical Development Materials Award
This will be awarded for the most significant technical development over the last 24 months (August 2005 - August 2007) in the field of material development.
2. Technical Development Manufacturing Award
This will be awarded for the most significant development of a manufacturing device, process or production plant in the industry over the last 24 months (August 2005 - August 2007).
3. Technical Development Device Award
This will be awarded for the most significant development of a device or component in the industry over the last 24 months (August 2005 - August 2007). Devices include logic circuits (e.g. RFID tag), displays, photovoltaic cells, batteries and sensors. These will be demonstrated in a lab/prototype environment.
4. Best New Product Development Award
This will be awarded to the company who has launched a new product based on printed electronics and is in the process of bringing it to market. The category will be assessed on the technical development of the product, its potential market, and the benefits it brings over alternatives.
5. Best Commercialization Award
This will be awarded for an actual commercial success with an end-product using printed electronics. Judges will look for success in terms of products sold and revenues generated.
In each award category three finalists will be announced. Of the three finalists, one will be presented with the award at the Gala Awards Dinner.
Previous winners include Merck, Menippos and Pelikon who have all benefited from the publicity and prestige of these awards. Pelikon saw the Best Device award as an “acknowledgement from the industry of Pelikon’s standing in the advancement of Printed Electronics. Closer to home, it was recognition of the ongoing hard work the Pelikon team is undertaking to achieve world class development.”
Menippos GmbH produced 70,000 Hurra Fussball electronic card games to win the Best Commercialization Award which has had a tangible impact on their business.
To enter the Printed Electronics USA Awards, contact the Event Manager, Chris Clare at c.clare@IDTechEx.com. Submissions must be received by Sept.14, 2007 and the winners will be announced at the Printed Electronics Awards Dinner at The Carnelian Room, in San Francisco on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 as part of the Printed Electronics USA Conference.
