By Dr. Klaus Hecker, MD- OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Assn.)

Abstract

Organic and printed electronics has developed into a global market worth more than $35 billion. While OLED displays currently play the biggest role, strong growth is expected in the coming years in other applications such as NFC/RFID, sensors, wearable electronics and in the automotive and medical industry sectors. These trends are reflected in the eighth edition of the Roadmap (see Figure 1) published by the OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Assn.), a working group within VDMA (Mechanical Engineering Industry Assn. www.vdma.org).

The revolutionary technology of organic and printed electronics is constantly opening up new fields of application and already has established itself in many areas. From the Internet of Things (IoT) to consumer electronics and healthcare, the automotive industry, smart packaging and buildings, printed electronics now are applied in numerous products and industries worldwide. While a few years ago the use of printed electronics in the automotive industry was, for example, limited to seat occupancy sensors and OLED taillights, the technology now is finding increasingly more applications in this sector, such as touch sensors or heating foils.

The current White Paper, “OE-A Roadmap for Organic and Printed Electronics,” takes a closer look into the advanced maturity of the printed-electronics industry (see Figure 2). For the first time, experts at the OE-A have compiled detailed short-, medium- and long-term forecasts for the above-mentioned industry sectors, in addition to the latest developments. We see a clear trend away from the technology push of earlier years toward an increased market pull of organic and printed electronics today.

Hybrid systems enable new applications

Printed electronics complement classical electronics, which enable new applications by offering additional technical and design freedom. An important development identified in the OE-A Roadmap is hybrid systems that combine printed and classical silicon-based components. This combination can be used particularly for the IoT, smart labels and healthcare. Products that combine both technologies will make a major contribution to the further establishment of printed electronics on the market and the creation of new applications.

Mastering challenges to further develop the industry

The White Paper also identifies challenges that still need to be overcome to achieve a breakthrough in other fields of application. In recent years, great progress has been made with functional materials. In the future, printed electronics will be used increasingly on three-dimensional surfaces, as well as in clothing or as intelligent sensors on the skin. This means that materials, as well as substrates and encapsulations, must be stretchable.

There still is a considerable need for development here. To increase the suitability for mass production, further progress is required in the optimization and scaling of production processes, yield and standardization. The OE-A Roadmap is an important compass for industry, politics and science in development and product planning. 

Dr. Klaus Hecker is managing director of OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Assn.), Frankfurt, Germany. He can be reached at +49-69-66-031336, e-mail: klaus.hecker@oe-a.org.

The OE-A was founded in December 2004 and is the leading international industry association for organic and printed electronics. It represents the entire value chain of this emerging industry. Members are world-class global companies and institutions, ranging from R&D institutes, mechanical engineering companies and material suppliers to producers and end-users. The OE-A Roadmap White Paper is available at www.oe-a.org.