05.08.2020: Launch of innovation network for “hybrid systems with printed electronics”

Wolfgang Mildner, Dr. Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf, Dr. Jens Hauch and Dr. Michael Fraas show several opportunities for hybrid applications (from left to right); Photo: A. Zellner

The research and development network for ‘Hybrid Systems with Printed Electronics’ (Hidronik) has been launched in July under the coordination of ENERGIEregion Nürnberg e.V. The network offers small and medium-sized companies the opportunity to develop innovative products, materials and processes in the field of hybrid electronics and to market them.

Dr. Michael Fraas, economic consultant of the City of Nuremberg and Chairman of the Board of the Competence Initiative ENERGIEregion Nürnberg e.V., says: “The Nuremberg metropolitan region is a strong location for printed electronics. The market for printed electronics is expected to grow to around 60 billion euros by 2024. This offers great potential for important sectors of the Nuremberg metropolitan region such as automotive, energy, buildings, logistics and pharmaceuticals. We want medium-sized companies to participate in this as well. With the research and development network ‘Hybrid Systems with Printed Electronics’, we are consistently focusing on innovation from medium-sized companies in this future-oriented field.

“Due to the rapidly advancing trend of the Internet of Things and the associated increased demand for intelligent electronic products, the technical requirements for established products are also increasing. In the future, three elementary properties will be decisive for their success: thin, flexible and light. Printed electronics is a key technology for this. By developing hybrid electronic systems that combine the advantages and properties of printed and conventional electronic components, the new performance requirements can be transferred to established electronic products or completely new products can be developed. In addition, the consumption of resources by hybrid systems can be significantly limited, thus contributing to environmental and climate protection. This is an attractive market that medium-sized companies from the Nuremberg metropolitan region and beyond want to develop in Hidronik together with universities and research institutes,” says ENERGIEregion Managing Director Dr. Jens Hauch, explaining the project.

The development of the network and the acquisition of the project funds goes back to the preliminary work of the two ENERGIEregion employees Dr. Thomas Kunz and Simon Reichenwallner, who will continue to support Hidronik with their respective expertise. The ENERGIEregion was able to win Wolfgang Mildner for the leadership of the network management, who will perform this task in addition to his current activities. Mr. Mildner has been working in printed and hybrid electronics for many years. He is Fellow of the Organic Electronics Association and General Chair of LOPEC (Large Area, Organic & Printed Electronics Convention), the leading trade fair for printed electronics. Wolfgang Mildner brings his extensive expertise and his worldwide network to Hidronik: “I am pleased to make my contribution to ensure that this trendsetting topic is pushed forward accordingly and will soon be visible on the market in the form of products!

In addition to the current partners Automatic Research GmbH, Enerthing GmbH, Fraunhofer IISB, GSB-Wahl GmbH, Hof University of Applied Sciences, Metawell GmbH, Neotech AMT GmbH, SEHO Systems GmbH, Nuremberg University of Technology and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Hidronik is open for participation of further companies and scientific institutions from all over Germany.

Contact:

Markus Ankenbrand, M. Sc.

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Institute for Factory Automation and Production Systems (FAPS, Prof. Franke)