Joint Vision for ‘Functional Electronics
5E project offers an attractive opportunity for all DIHs and members of the SAE initiative to cooperate on European level and get a direct line to the European Commission.
The term ‘Functional Electronics’ encompasses the ever-increasing capability to integrate key digital technologies with cognitive functions, shifting from purely physical integration to functional integration. Smarter (hybrid) electronic components and systems will become viable notably at high structural density using novel substrates (including, but not limited to, flexible, organic, printed) and structural systems (e.g. textiles, plastics, laminates, glass, steel).
Functional Electronics benefit from the successive convergence of the so far separated and independent electronics areas nano-electronics, flexible & wearable electronics and smart systems integration. They will generate additional value from their use that is presently not realizable by using technologies, expertise and solutions from each of the electronics area independent from the others. Also, new and efficient approaches for eco-design are enabled at product, process and business model levels.
Functional Electronics will have the capability to capture & manage multi-physics data and contextual information in real time, with high sensitivity, selectivity and reliability as well as being networked, autonomous and complemented by bespoke software solutions including Artificial Intelligence.
This leads to an overall joint vision that such Functional Electronics will provide key solutions to global societal challenges, where several aspects are important:
- There is an already impressive portfolio/library of available technology options across the functionalities benefitting from the inputs from the individual electronics areas. It is critical to continue developing such technologies to continue expanding the range of capabilities that will enable/facilitate more diverse information gathering.
- There is a need for platform technologies that enable robust integration of these available functionality options through novel system level approaches. These need to provide a sufficient degree of reliability and yield in the production process to enable a credible alternative to more traditional integration approaches.
- Next generation systems based on such platforms will enable smooth implementation towards new solutions in a wider range of application sectors.
- Development of such systems should focus on addressing the Areas of Intervention
Therefore the 5E project will organise several web-based workshops with relevant stakeholders of the European Electronics Ecosystem from industry and academia as well as multipliers, clusters and Digital Innovation Hubs. We will discuss the influence on addressed applications and work out recommendations to European and regional policy makers for targeted actions and future funding programs.
If you want your organisation to be represented during these workshops or want to be invited personally, please contact the 5E representatives Petra Weiler (Petra.Weiler@VDIVDE-IT.de) or Stephan Karmann (Stephan.Karmann@Hahn-Schickard.de).
