Smart cities are now much more ambitious. That means new materials are their biggest enabler, with information and computer technology dropping to an important support role.

Printed/flexible electronics is extremely well suited to wearable skin patches due to its low weight, flexibility/conformality, and potential for high-throughput, low-cost manufacturing of these disposable items.

Digital water networks are beginning to see an increase in interest as the hype around these systems grows.

Despite the promise of and the commercial interest in FHE, some technological challenges remain. One of the most important is developing the ability to robustly attach mounted components to flexible substrates, given the substantial difference in mechanical and thermal properties.

IDTechEx have released a brand new report, "Smart Cities Emerging Materials Markets 2021-2041" - a comprehensive analysis of multifunctional smart materials, bioplastics, structural electronics, composites, 3D printing, graphene, 2D and 3D molecules, 5G, 6G, IOT, new recycling.

In 2020 smart cities have been pivoting reinvented hardware and associated systems.

While the basic smart city ideas are mainly updates, the materials and devices enabling them are certainly new and they do add remarkable new functions.

Radically different robot shuttles are bringing big changes to cities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Printed/flexible electronics is a constantly evolving area with extensive scope for innovation. Here, IDTechEx outlines three of the most exciting technological highlights in the sector.

This IDTechEx article will focus on three common misunderstandings around the 5G market which are extremely important for decision making.

The 3D electronics market is diversifying and is forecast to reach around $3bn by 2030. Find out more in the IDTechEx report, "3D Electronics 2020-2030: Technologies, Forecasts, Players".

In total, IDTechEx Research forecast that the market for specialized solution processable materials for printed/flexible electronics will reach $6.9Bn by 2031.

Join the IDTechEx webinar on Wednesday 25 November. Where will we need low-loss materials? What are the requirements for low-loss materials for mmWave 5G applications? Can thermosets materials compete with thermoplastics in the 5G market? How big is the market for low-loss materials?

IDTechEx have released a new market research report on materials for printed/flexible electronics - materials for OLEDs, photovoltaics (OPV), thin film transistors (OTFTs), photodetectors (OPDs). Also carbon nanotubes, perovskites, quantum dots, functional inorganic inks, component attachment materials, conductive inks.

Micro-LED is exciting the markets and commentators, but the question of whether, and how, it will become the natural replacement for other LED technologies, including the currently dominant LCD and OLED, is somewhat complex.