Singapore as advanced technology hub

Key business leaders from the organic and printed electronics industry throughout Asia, Europe and the US converged in Singapore for the international symposium on roll-to-roll processing of printed electronics and functional films to share on advanced technologies, applications and market opportunities. Hosted by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and in cooperation with the Organic and Printed Electronics Association and the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the event is held in conjunction with the roll-out of SIMTech's Large Area Processing Programme.
Dr Raj Thampuran, Executive Director, A*STAR's Science and Engineering Research Council said, "A*STAR researchers have made significant advancements in the field of printed electronics and I am glad that experts from all over the world are here to learn about SIMTech's newly formed large area processing programme which will launch more industry collaborations in this area and grow this sector in Singapore."
Emerging applications such as photovoltaics, flexible electronics and solid-state lighting which require large area functional and often flexible surfaces are the key factors driving up the demand for roll-to-roll manufacturing. With a global market valued at $2 billion in 2011 and expected to worth over $40 billion by 2020, it opens up immense commercial opportunities for key industry sectors such as advertising, building, consumer electronics, healthcare and printed media.
Unlike conventional semiconductor fabrication which requires batch processing of wafers, the large-area processing system involves a continuous printing press-like manufacturing process compatible with flexible polymer. Using roll-to-roll processing, functional materials can be printed on thin, lightweight, flexible and transparent plastic films. Broad industry applications include ambient lighting, portable backlight for outdoor advertising, portable signages, automotive, aerospace and buildings.
By leveraging on disruptive manufacturing technology platforms, SIMTech's Large Area Processing Programme aims to develop more innovative "Made in Singapore" products with novel coating, patterning, embossing web control and web inspection techniques that are not available in the industry today.
Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech said, "We are collaborating closely with the print and media industries in Singapore to capture emerging market opportunities in state-of-the-art high speed printing such as inkjet printing, screen printing and flexographic printing to deposit functional materials in roll-to-roll manufacturing processes. This will transform the printing industry into a new industry in printed electronics and functional films."
Ms Julia Ng, Director of Manufacturing and Construction Divisi18n of Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) said that the inaugural international symposium where advanced technologies, applications and market opportunities are shared amongst key business leaders is an important development. Large Area Processing is an emerging technology, which will create new employment opportunities for the workforce. To this end, Ms. Ng said that WDA will continue to work closely with SIMTech to leverage this technology to build new manpower capabilities.
Strategic industry-driven collaborations with key industry partners include application examples such as printed heating film for blood or liquid warming in medical applications and printed lighting film for ambient or decorative lighting in advertising and building applications.
SIMTech established Singapore's first Large Area Processing Research Programme as it sets sights on creating a new industry to produce innovative large area printed electroNike