Reports from Recent Acreo Events:
Paper Electronics vs. Electronic Paper - Workshop in Norrköping
Printed and R2R manufactured electronics is in focus these days as traditional industries such as paper and packaging companies are looking into new and novel applications utilizing cheap electronical and optical functionalities.
Together with PIRA, Acreo hosted a Pre-Conference workshop entitled “Paper Electronics vs. Electronic Paper”.
The idea was to let people get some ”hands-on” experience with Acreo’s paper electronics technologies and get inputs/outputs to guide the paper electronics towards the market, i.e. both a technology drive and technology push approach.
Acreo presented its activities within the Paper Electronics field and put these efforts into perspective with the Electronic Paper approach pursued by other actors. Some of the processe technologies and devices were covered thoroughly, along with current research activities at ITN. Acreo presented its efforts to create a “playground” for commercialisation of these technologies together with the different market actors. This is to be done in a “Manufacturing Greenhouse” at Acreo, starting in 2006.
Workshop activities with real hands-on manufacturing experience with some of the different device technologies at Acreo were one of the day’s high lights. The printing press was demonstrated, as well as the printing of parts of Acreo’s 96-bit e-ID memory, at 150 m/min.
Animated group discussions concluded the working day. Acreo invited companies and research centres to team up in this manufacturing incubator.
Sensor seminar in Kista
Sensors based on micro system technology MST have a great potential for the development of new competitive products.
Within the “minST programme” a seminar showing the opportunities offered by MST was held in Kista Electrum on June 14. “minST” is specifically targeting small and medium sized enterprises with the aim to show SMEs the status of micro- and nanotechnology research as well as showing successful examples of how the technology has been commercialized.
A number of talks were given in the full day programme, ranging from an introduction of the technology to current advanced research in micro/nanotechnology.
One commercial success story was presented by Hans Martin, Sensair AB. With applications for: “building automation”, “climate control in confined places”, “personal safety”, “medical” and “industrial processes”, the development of Senseair IR gas sensor technology has made an enormous decrease of production cost possible.
Seminar participants were given the opportunity to see standard sensor components and development tools for MST sensors presented by suppliers in a small exhibiton.
The minST programme manged by Acreo, IMEGO and Mälardalens högskola is funded by the KK Foundation and is also supporting specific training programmes for SMEs. Anders Martinsen MDH presented the possibilities to improve the competence in the field offered by the programme. The training programmes also facilitate the transfer of knowledge from universities and research institutes to industry.
More about minST: www.minst.nu.
KPRC-Day
Celebrating the first three years of KPRC a full day seminar was held on June 9 2005. The program gathered around 90 delegates and included lab tours, plenary talks, poster session and dinner.
The Kista Photonics Research Center is a collaboration between Acreo and KTH in the field of Photonics in Kista and comprises more than a hundred researchers. Pierre-Yves Fonjallaz, director of KPRC, gave a survey of the activities at the center during its first three years. As examples of interesting future directions he mentioned bio-photonics and wireless over fiber.
The plenary talks covered a broad range of subjects from optical networking and testbeds to quantum optics offering technique for secure crypto.
The audience was also presented some interesting talks on more component oriented subjects such as photonic crystals and glass components showing potential for better wave guides and integrated photonic circuits.
More about KPRC: www.kprc.se