Global leaders chart the next big tech growth sector

The Canadian Printable Electronics Industry Association (CPEIA) has lined up an impressive roster of international keynotes for CPES2016, Canada’s Printable, Flexible, Wearable Electronics Symposium.

The event, which runs April 19-20 at Sheridan College in Oakville ON, will showcase the convergence of research and development, industry expertise, commercial effort and government activity that gives Canada a tremendous opportunity in the explosive global market for printable, flexible and wearable electronics (PE).

“The market opportunity for PE continues to evolve across industry verticals like healthcare, consumer electronics and wearables, intelligent buildings and automotive, as well as in more developed markets for secure documents and smart packaging,” says Peter Kallai, president and CEO of the CPEIA and CPES co-chair.

“Our fantastic keynote speakers explore the breakthroughs in materials and manufacturing needed to create real products and real applications that have commercial potential today and tomorrow.”

Dr. James Buntaine

The five keynotes include:

* Dr. James Buntaine, Country Lead, EMD Performance Materials Corp., USA

EMD is the speciality chemicals business of German multinational chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences company Merck KGaA. Dr. Buntaine’s areas of technical leadership include novel carbon materials, organic photovoltaics, organic LED lighting and display, cholesteric liquid crystal displays, lithographic and flexographic printing, and low temperature co-fired ceramics.

He will discuss photolithographic integration of high-performance polymer thin-film transistors suitable for mass production processes.

* Dr. Daniel Frisbie

* Dr. Daniel Frisbie, Professor, University of Minnesota, USA

Dr. Frisbie is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Head of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on materials for printed electronics, including organic semiconductors and their applications in devices such as transistors and solar cells.

His presentation will explore new materials and printing processes for flexible electronics for a spectrum of applications, including roll-up displays, wearable biosensors, smart labels, and e-skins for robotics.

*Prof. Harri Kopola, vice-president research in Knowledge Intensive Products and Services Business Area, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Finland

Prof. Harri Kopola

VTT is the leading non-profit research and technology organization in the Nordic countries, with a national mandate in Finland. Prof. Kopola is responsible for research strategy and a research portfolio that covers digital systems and services, communication systems, microsystems, intelligent sensors, metrology, printed functionalities and health.

Prof. Vivek Subramanian

* Prof. Vivek Subramanian, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Prof. Subramanian is a Professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences. His research interests include advanced CMOS devices and technology and polysilicon thin film transistor technology for displays and vertical integration applications.

He will discuss progress in advancing the state-of-the-art of printed electronics, including advanced printable materials, improvements in printing technology, and design and realization of devices and systems that exploit the capabilities of this emerging technology.

Mounir Zok

* Mounir Zok, senior sports technologist, U.S. Olympic Committee, USA

Mr. Zok is responsible for championing, setting up and running high-performance technology programs that increase the medaling chances of Team USA athletes at the future Olympic and Paralympic Games. Such programs usually lie at the intersection of emerging technology and human-centred design.

His presentation will explore how wearable technology is changing sports forever, by looking at the projects TEAM USA is working on in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The inaugural CPES Innovation Awards will also be presented on Day 2 of the event, to recognize achievements in Canadian research innovation and industrial commercialization.

Register now for CPES2016 for the early bird rate.