Dr Thomas Anthopoulos holds up a transparent plastic sheet in his laboratory
Scientists at Imperial are being backed by government to put the UK at the forefront of a high-tech global electronics industry
Scientists are being backed by government to put the UK at the forefront of a growing global high-tech electronics industry.
Using low cost and high efficiency printing techniques, components such as simple displays, power sources, sensors and electronic circuits could be printed in large numbers onto a single giant sheet, in a similar way to how postage stamps are produced.
In the future such technologies could be used to make engaging electronic greetings cards, toys and games, smart packaging and anti-counterfeit devices. They could also be integrated with current medical devices, electronic displays, low-energy LED lighting and electricity generating solar panels.
New public funding will help to develop economically viable processes for manufacturing these future components and integrated electronic systems on an industrial scale.
The market for smart packaging alone is estimated to be £15 billion by 2015 (ref: Markets & Markets).
Global market
Imperial College London researchers - Dr Natalie Stingelin (Materials), and Dr Paul Stavrinou, Professor Thomas Anthopoulos and Professor Donal Bradley (all Physics) - from the Centre for Plastic Electronics are part of a consortium of four universities that will contribute to the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Large Area Electronics, one of four new centres funded under the scheme.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) announced last week it will contribute £5.6 million funding to the consortium, which joins Imperial with the University of Cambridge (Cambridge Integrated Knowledge Centre, CIKC), Swansea University (Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating, WCPC) and the University of Manchester (Organic Materials Innovation Centre, OMIC), all members of the Printed Electronics Centres of Excellence (PECoE) network.
Together, the researchers expect to develop new ways to meet the increasing needs of future high-end technology consumers and ensure that UK industry stays competitive in the global market.
David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, announced the funding as part of a £45 million package of investments in manufacturing research at the BIS Manufacturing Summit on Thursday. Speaking ahead of the summit, he said:
"The UK has a proud history of manufacturing but to build on this success industry needs access to the very latest science and technology. This £45 million package of investment will see our world-class research base investigating innovative new manufacturing equipment and techniques. This will support our industrial strategy in a range of important sectors, driving growth and keeping the UK ahead in the global race."
Manufacturing opportunities
Researchers at the Centre aim to develop new reliable ways to assemble individual electronic components into sophisticated systems and reduce their cost over a 10 year timescale.
These new techniques to manufacture large area electronics are distinct from those used for conventional silicon chips. In particular, the scientists are choosing to develop printing based approaches that generate less waste, require lower power consumption and can be used to produce electronic devices cheaply in high volume with new features, such as flexibility, robustness and light weight.
Centre for Innovative Manufacturing lead Professor Donal Bradley, who is also Pro-Rector (Research) at Imperial College London, said:
"This new Centre is a fantastic opportunity for Imperial to build on our strengths in developing advanced manufacturing processes. In particular six students from the Centre for Doctoral Training in Plastic Electronics will now be applying themselves to this project alongside our experienced research leaders in this area.
"We greatly welcome the opportunity to nurture the development of large area electronics manufacturing in the UK, with our colleagues in Swansea, Manchester and Cambridge. This support is also a timely boost for our ambitious plans to embed Plastic Electronics in the new Imperial West Research and Translation Hub."
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Simon Levey
Communications Division
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Email: s.levey@imperial.ac.uk
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