2014 FLEXI Awards Recognize R&D, Innovation and Education Achievements

FlexTech Alliance announced the recipients of the 2014 FLEXI Awards. Imprint Energy, Plastic Logic and ISORG, and Dr. Bruce Kahn of Clemson University, were recognized for their significant contributions in innovation, R&D and education, respectively. The awards celebrate companies and other organizations which are leading developments in flexible, printed electronics with innovative and commercially viable products and technologies. Awards were presented at the 13th Annual Flexible and Printed Electronics Conference & Exhibition, held Feb. 4-6, 2014 in Phoenix, AZ.

The 2014 FLEXI R&D Award was awarded for two different projects. Imprint Energy developed the first flexible rechargeable battery based on an ultrathin zinc polymer cell structure printed onto flexible substrates that can withstand 4000 dynamic flex cycles, enabling truly flexible electronics, displays and sensor systems. The technology is a flexible, low cost and thin energy source which enables mobile electronics in form factors that have been unachievable in the past.

Sharing this year’s R&D award is Plastic Logic, with their demonstration of the deposition of ISORG’s organic printed photodetectors (OPD) onto Plastic Logic’s plastic organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) backplane, creating a flexible, ultra-light, ultra-thin and robust sensor. The market for these products includes digital image sensing, smart packaging and sensors for medical equipment and biomedical diagnostics, security and mobile commerce, environmental, industrial, scanning surfaces and 3D user interfaces for consumer electronics.

The nominees were judged based on the potential impact of the work and significant commercial potential for implementation into flexible or printed electronics.

The 2014 FLEXI Innovation Award was awarded to MC10 for the CHECKLIGHT, a sports and activity impact indicator designed for athletes of all ages and skill-levels. A comfortable skullcap with conformal motion sensors, the CHECKLIGHT is the first impact indicator that comfortably positions wearable electronics directly on the athlete – not on the athlete’s protective equipment. This category was judged based on product design and ingenuity, overall market adoption and successful revenue generation.

The Technology Leadership in Education Award was awarded to Dr. Bruce Kahn for his exemplary contributions to the printed electronics field since 2002, including teaching, training, writing, researching and advising. Professor Kahn has taught printed electronics in a number of venues in the U.S. and Europe, to a variety of students ranging from undergraduates to corporate executives and government leaders. Judging was based on the quality of education, practical applicability and scope of students exposed to the field of printed and flexible electronics.

“Congratulations are extended to all the 2014 Flexi Award winners for their achievements,” said Michael Ciesinski, FlexTech CEO. “From enabling mobile devices through novel batteries to applying sensors in multiple platforms to educating tomorrow’s technologists, this was a strong field of nominees who well-deserved recognition.”