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Mr. Mildner, you are chairman of the Organic Electronics Association (OE-A). What does it stand for and what are its strategic goals?
The OE-A1 is a consortium within the VDMA2, figuring as international, industrial representative for this novel technology. Right now, we have grown to count more than 120 members worldwide, comprising the entire value creation chain and ranging from materials production, equipment, and manufacture to the individual user and the F&E organizations/universities. In cooperation with the entire value creation chain, the technological development and market build-out is accelerated. As the technology employs new materials and new production methods leading to new types of product, a close cooperation between experts and companies is imperative in finding the right path toward solutions.
Which are the hot topics the OE-A is dealing with at their international conferences and within its research groups?
The OE-A is among others concerned with the set-up of roadmaps to have all members be able to readily provide consistent answers as to when which products and applications will come to market. In the context, various technologies and materials will be evaluated. Joint developments for demonstration purposes show real-life examples of what is achievable. In the facts brochure of the OE-A, we publish articles of a general nature and examples (technology ‘giveaways’) to reinforce this matrix accordingly. The OE-A working groups also take an interest in the subjects of quality control, standardization and upscaling production.
What applications are we talking about?
The sectors for printed electronics are ranging far and wide; we are looking at displays (e.g., OLEDs), light generation, also energy creation (as battery or photovoltaic cells) all the way to circuit boards (e.g., for RFID) or sensors. The elements are conceptualized as either independent or in combination, like the so-called smart objects. At a conference OE-A is sponsoring (LOPE-C) in Frankfurt from 05/30/2010 to 06/02/2010, experts will meet to release the latest results and report on future opportunities.
1 The Organic and Printed Electronics Association was founded in December, 2004 as an international information and communications platform by companies and institutes actively engaged in the new technologies. More than 120 members from the Europe, the USA and Asia work together in OE-A to promote the growth of an efficient infrastructure facilitating the production of organic electronics. OE-A represents the entire value creation chain of organic electronics, beginning with materials producers to engineering concerns, manufacturers and end users.
2 The VDMA (Assoc. for German engineering and machinery construction) represents one of the most outstanding, consolidated service providers offering the largest industry network for investment goods in Europe.
Wolfgang Mildner
„What matters now is to create an opening and take the first steps toward a market build-out.“
Wolfgang Mildner
Wolfgang Mildner is the managing director of PolylC Ltd. & Co. He received his degree in Computer Science from Erlangen-Nuremberg University. Prior to the founding of PolylC, Mr. Mildner held since 1986 several positions at Siemens AG. He had responsibility for a number of projects with the goal of transitioning promising technologies into the creation of useful products. He is also the chief executive of the Association for Organic Electronics/VDMA.
Electronic product codes
Printed electronics makes possible the manufacture of radio tag labels, so-called electronic product codes (EPC) replacing bar codes. It affords the monitoring of the logistics chain. It also enhances protection against brand piracy.
