Fantastic plastic

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Plastic Electronics technology allows circuits to be printed on to any surface and over large areas. It’s a low-cost alternative to conventional silicon-based electronics.

The UK has been at the forefront of this technology and the launch today of a new strategy, entitled Plastic Electronics Strategy for Success: Realising the UK Potential, addresses the challenges that must be overcome to ensure the UK remains a world leader.

Plastic electronics facts

Plastic electronics is estimated to be worth around $2 billion annually. But this is forecast to grow to $120 billion by 2020.

The UK currently employs around 3,000 people in the plastics electronics sector. This is expected to increase to over 50,000 jobs by 2027.

Examples of products incorporating plastic electronics include:

• Food containers that flash when their contents go mouldy
• Smart packaging on pills that beep when you forget to take them
• Intelligent bandages that can measure oxygen levels in a patient’s wound

Podcast

Listen to the podcast of Richard Kirk, Chief Executive Officer of PolyPhotonix, talk about the potential of plastic electronics by using the player below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You can also download the original mp3 file.

Press notice

Read the full BIS press notice here.

Images

For images, see the BIS Flickr album here.

Strategy

Download Plastic Electronics Strategy for Success: Realising the UK Potential here (PDF 1.40MB)

Links

Read more about how Government is supporting industry through the New Industries New Jobs initiative

The Technology Strategy Board has announced £8 million to facilitate collaborative R&D projects in plastic electronics.

The UK Innovation Investment Fund, which could generate £1 billion of venture capital, will be an important building block for the sector.