An investment of £20m to the Printable Electronics Technology Centre (PETEC) in the North East of England could create up to 1500 jobs across the UK over the next four years in the printed electronics industry. The global market for the sector addressed by PETEC is forecast to grow to £15bn by 2015 and £125bn by 2025, according to PETEC.
The funding will result in 500m2 of new hi-tech equipment space for pilot product manufacturing, to test and develop printable photovoltaics, printed flexible displays, intelligent packaging and ultra-efficient lighting. This will aid companies and academia to identify the materials, industrial steps, and investments required to bring their products to market. The centre will also develop a regional and UK-wide display, lighting and photovoltaic supply chain with the aim of attracting new companies to the UK.
PETEC was established in 2006 by the Regional Development Agency, One North East, and the County Durham Economic Partnership. The centre provides help to bring new printed electronics to market quickly by offering facilities and expertise that are rarely available in-house. This reduces the client's level and risk of capital investment. They are a division of the Centre for Process Innovation Limited (CPI). www.uk-cpi.com 
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.To learn more attend Printed Electronics Asia 2009 or Printed Electronics USA 2009.
