Electrically mounting components to flexible substrates are required for printed electronics, since printed functionality is increasingly being combined with mounted components (which may themselves be flexible). This approach is termed Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE).

A huge market is opening for component and material suppliers in the thermal management arena.

Not a single country or industry has been unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact will be felt for years to come. Despite this, there have still been some notable industrial activity and commercial progression within materials science. IDTechEx provides a round-up and highlights some of these key developments.

Following decades of development, 2021 and 2022 are set to be notable years for the graphene industry, as it finally approaches an inflection point. Some in the graphene sector are now seeing their labors bear fruit in the form of commercial success - but that is not the case for everyone.

Smooth & Sharp Corporation (S&S) has received funding from a national Taiwanese campaign targeted to invest in IoT technologies that can prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.

Wednesday 9 December 2020 (3 sessions to choose from) - New applications and formulations power this market to over $14 billion in 2041. Find out more in the IDTechEx webinar, "Electrifying Fluoropolymer Opportunities".

A comprehensive study and market assessment of 3D lidar, with a focus on the automotive sector, reveals that while the market for lidar has expanded, the next few years will prove crucial for all involved.

Event-based sensing promises reduced data transmission requirements for movement, touch and image sensors

OrelTech recently launched its latest product, a nanoparticle-free gold ink, under the name OTech Aurum. This type of ink is unique on the market and presents savings on material use and costs for the customers.

Partnerships with Optitune and Solip Tech will allow Merck to accelerate the commercialization of liviFlexTM, a new range of display materials that addresses challenges in the manufacture of flexible, foldable and rollable OLED displays.

The focus of smart cities has changed. In 2020, smart cities have been pivoting reinvented hardware and associated systems.

Virtual reality has already had a major impact in a range of different industries. IDTechEx predicts in its recent market research report that this technology will grow to $8Bn by 2030.

In this IDTechEx Premium Article, we consider circuit prototyping with additive manufacturing and how it relates to 3D printed electronics.

Most solar cells today are made with refined silicon that turns sunlight into clean electricity. Unfortunately, the process of refining silicon is far from clean, requiring vast amounts of energy from carbon-emitting power plants.

Tuesday 8 December 2020 (3 sessions to choose from) - This webinar will provide a detailed assessment and outlook for these advanced materials. The talk will highlight key developments, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, company performances, geographic variations, and application areas.

Researchers have developed an ultrathin pressure sensor that can be attached directly to the skin. It can measure how fingers interact with objects to produce useful data for medical and technological applications. The sensor has minimal effect on the users' sensitivity and ability to grip objects, and it is resistant to disruption from rubbing.

Due to the immense pressure COVID-19 puts on societies worldwide, pharmaceutical companies strive to make rapid test devices available to the public as soon as possible. However, to do so, innovative techniques have to be used to meet the necessary medical requirements.

Graphene materials are progressing through their own hype curve. The commercialization has been making steady progress and IDTechEx expect the graphene market to significantly grow over the next decade.

Thursday 3 December (includes Q&A session) - Printed/flexible electronics is a constantly evolving area with extensive scope for innovation. In this webinar, Dr Matthew Dyson will discuss four technical innovations learned about in 2020.