Printable electronics association hits membership goal

The Canadian Printable Electronics Industry Association has signed up more than 50 members just in time for the country’s premier industry event, the 2015 Canadian Printable Electronics Symposium – set to launch this week in Montreal.

“We have attracted Members from all points of the supply chain in Canada and from around the world,” says Peter Kallai, executive director of the CPEIA. “Now it’s time to build on that momentum by engaging our membership to help build a strong printable and organic electronics sector in Canada.”

CPEIA members include public and private sector organizations from Canada and abroad that are active in various aspects of research, development and commercialization for printable and organic electronics (PE). This includes materials, devices, prototyping, advanced manufacturing and printing.

In addition, the CPEIA has welcomed organizations that can help it reach end-users in its target market verticals – packaging, aerospace and defence, automotive, health and wellness, secure printing, marketing and commerce and consumer electronics and wearables.

“Many of the applications for using PE are niche,” adds Kallai. “The CPEIA’s role is to identify suitable applications and bring our technology developers into contact with world-class companies to create new products and applications that address market needs using printable and organic electronics.”

Building strategic partnerships

In addition to surpassing its six-month membership goal, the CPEIA has been actively pursuing strategic relationships with organizations that reach end-users in its target market verticals and other stakeholders with a role to play in the PE supply chain.

To date, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed with Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (the largest industry association in Canada representing 21 manufacturing segments and tens of thousands of companies) and the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), which counts among its members hundreds of the largest home and building automation companies across North America.

These are substantial relationships with organizations that have committed to work with the CPEIA and build interest and engagement among their members to develop smart applications powered by PE.

CPES2015 a record-breaking sell out

Late last year, the CPEIA assumed a leadership role as chair of CPES2015, Canada’s only dedicated industry event for PE. In a few short months, this event has been repositioned from a small technical meeting to a professionally organized, widely promoted event that has doubled in size from its previous two years. In fact, CPES2015 has now sold out, making it the largest event of its kind that will have ever taken place in Canada.

For more information on CPES2015, please visit http://cpeia-acei.ca/symposium

Getting down to work

The CPEIA has also been involved in initiatives that are aimed at increasing government investment in R&D and commercialization that either exclusively focus on PE or include a PE component.

“We have also laid the groundwork to create our own working groups and advisory boards to develop networking and collaboration across the Canadian industry, to bring PE-enabled products and applications to market,” Kallai says. “This will be a key area of focus for us in the coming months.”