This week, the German ministry for Education and Research BMBF announced the 5 winners in a strategic program which aims to strengthen cooperation between science, research and industry with 200 million Euros over the next 5 years.
One of the winners is the cluster "Forum Organic Electronics", combining companies and universities in the region Rhine-Neckar in the southwest of Germany. The main industrial players in this consortium cover all aspects of the value chain: BASF and Merck, the two global leaders in material research and development for the field of organic electronics, Heidelberg Druckmaschinen, the biggest manufacturer of printing equipment, and SAP - the global player in commercial IT infrastructure applications.
Beside the big companies, a group of small and medium sized companies is involved, each one a leading expert in its field, including Bosch, Pepperl + Fuchs, Roche Diagnostics, Würth Solar, and PolyIC.
Research activities of several universities, namely of Heidelberg, Darmstadt, Karlsruhe and Mannheim, will focus on material and process development, and device and product design. As well as the activities towards new materials and technologies for organic PV, new organic electronic devices and smart labels, and high-efficient OLEDs, the cluster will offer excellent opportunities for young researchers and engineers from all over the world, including possibilities to graduate with masters' degrees and PhDs.
For more attend Printed Electronics Asia 2008 or Printed Electronics USA 2008.
Top image: Federal Minister Dr. Annette Schavan
