2014 has only just begun and already discussions abound on how a "tipping point" has been reached in the field of printed and flexible electronics, a statement mostly backed by the significant interest and accompanying investment by LG and Samsung into the commercialisation of flexible displays.

In this article we share some of the findings in the new IDTechEx report "Future Mobile Phone/Cell Phone Technology and Functions 2014-2024".

The IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA event in Santa Clara in November was attended by approximately 2,200 people and featured 160 exhibitors. The following is some of the feedback from the event, which will be held again in Santa Clara in 2014 on November 19 and 20. Exhibition space is being pre-booked now.

Last week the annual IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA event featured 160 exhibiting companies, over 200 presentations and approximately 2,200 attendees. Exhibitor attendance grew by over 50% and attendees grew by over 35% compared to the previous year.

Each year the Printed Electronics industry recognizes and awards outstanding achievement to those involved in the rapidly growing printed electronics business. The annual awards were announced at the tenth annual IDTechEx Printed Electronics event this week in Santa Clara, California - the world's largest event on the topic.

The 10th edition of Printed Electronics USA is only a few weeks away, and this year represents a unique opportunity to learn about printed, organic and flexible sensors.

According to a new RFID sector survey by IDTechEx Research, the RFID market will increase from $6.98 billion in 2012 to $7.88 billion, and will reach $23.4 billion in 2020. This includes tags, readers and software/services for RFID cards, labels, fobs and all other form factors - for both passive and active RFID.

IDTechEx forecasts that the market for printed and flexible sensors will increase by more than $1 billion by 2020. This is one of the many findings discussed in the latest report "Printed and Flexible Sensors 2014-2024: Technologies, Players, Forecasts" (www.IDTechEx.com/sensors).

This article introduces some of the research and content of the new IDTechEx report "Transparent Conductive Films (TCF) 2014-2024: Forecasts, Technologies, Players."

IDTechEx has just completed an intense study of Printed Electronics in Japan involving 35 visits to companies and institutions there and interviews and lectures at the IDTechEx Printed Electronics Asia event there.

The chemical industry will end up with most of the added value from printed electronics, one of the fastest growing technologies in the world.

This article summaries some of the technology and market analysis from the IDTechEx research report "Metal Oxide TFT Backplanes for Displays 2013-2018: Analysis, Trends, Forecasts".

Stretchable electronics has been one of the least exploited but most researched sectors of the new electronics over the past decade. To find out more read the IDTechEx research report "Stretchable Electronics Comes to Market".

In 2013 the market size for gold ink for electronic and electrical applications is less than $1 million - used mainly for academic work and some early stage work in healthcare products. However, a new report from IDTechEx Research titled New Opportunities for Gold: Conductive Inks for the Electronics Industry 2013-2019 finds that with demand from medical applications, edge connectors and interfaces with organic materials such as sensors the market will growth to $50 million in 2018, in the "most likely" scenario.

Questions arise as to how much supercapacitors can improve if organisations more like NASA took over. After all, if supercapacitors can replace many batteries when, as today, they store one tenth of their energy, what will happen in the marketplace if they approach the theoretical ten times the lithium-ion battery figure while acting as a near-perfect "battery"?

Graphene has already come a long way towards commercialisation, despite its short history. But really hard questions still remain about what comes next and how to grow revenues.

IDTechEx has recently launched an online browser-based Market Intelligence Portal , bringing you in-depth market intelligence and independent analysis throughout the year.

The new report from IDTechEx titled Printed, Organic & Flexible Electronics: Forecasts, Players & Opportunities 2013-2023 finds that the total market for these technologies will grow from $16.04 billion in 2013 to $76.79 billion in 2023.

Variously called Printed, Flexible or Organic Electronics, it is one of the fastest growing technologies in the world. It is of vital interest to industries as diverse as consumer goods, healthcare, mobility, electronics, media and architecture.

IDTechEx Research finds that the electroactive polymer (EAP) market will be US$ 245 million in 2013.