Flexible technology is bringing science fiction to life in region

Mar 13 2007 By Iain Laing, The Journal

Electronics you can roll up and put in your pocket. Science fiction is becoming reality at a new research park, writes Iain Laing.

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Flexible technology only previously seen in science fiction films could soon be made in the region with the creation of the £10m Plastic Electronics Technology Centre (PETeC). Regional development company One NorthEast and County Durham Economic Partnership are investing a combined £6.2m, with the European Regional Development Fund and the Department of Industry making up the rest of the investment for the facility, based at NETPark in Sedgefield and managed by Cenamps - a national centre for emerging small-scale technologies.

The centre, the first of its kind, aims to establish the region as a global leader in the application of plastic electronics research, making specialised facilities and expertise available to companies seeking to develop new products and services for use in a wide range of markets.

PETeC provides clean room, prototyping facilities and laboratories for a range of projects for companies and universities carrying out pioneering work in the field of plastic electronics, a revolutionary new technology that independent forecasts predict will be a £30bn industry by 2015 and balloon to a £250bn industry by 2025.

The research and development facility will house scientists developing innovative printing technologies including "inkjet" and "screen printing" technology - techniques that enables electronics to be printed directly on to paper thin plastic sheets, which are manufactured by DuPont Teijin Films at Wilton, near Redcar on Teesside.

This technology will complement the work being carried out by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at Wilton and form the basis of a new generation of thin flexible display monitors and televisions, the development of low energy organic lighting, large-area electronic displays, low cost flexible solar cells and even disposable small-scale technology for children's toys.

One NorthEast director of business and industry David Allison said: "North East England is home to many established and growing advanced manufacturing companies in electronics, substrates, photonics and materials, and the creation of PETeC will add to the support provided to these businesses.

"This project ensures the region is a world leader in the research and development of plastic electronics. Exploring this exciting new technology for market-led research and development, and strengthening the regional skills and knowledge base through shared research and networking opportunities, are some of the key aims of One NorthEast."

The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a 3,000sqm facility at NETPark, Sedgefield, equipped with state-of-the-art clean rooms, laboratories, offices and seminar rooms. The project will see the recruitment of a 10-strong staff to operate the facility and the creation of a business development and planning team.

Chief executive of Cenamps Mike Pitkethly said: "Identifying and supporting the development and adoption of emerging technologies is one of the core activities of Cenamps, and plastic electronics is a technology that will revolutionise many aspects of peoples' lives.

"International interest in plastic electronics is growing rapidly and Cenamps is extremely pleased that the North-East will now host the UK Centre for the prototyping and scale-up of the technology and have the opportunity to compete on the world stage."

Key partners with Cenamps in PETeC will be the CPI, another of One NorthEast's Centres of Excellence and the Universities of Durham and Newcastle.

Chief executive of CPI, Nigel Perry, said: "This is an extremely important project for both the North-East and UK Plc.

The UK has a world-leading position in this technology, and PETeC will transform our ability to drive this exciting technology towards commercial exploitation."

Durham University plans to develop organic displays and lighting-based contract research activities of the Photonics Materials Institute over to PETeC. The centre will also provide a base for Newcastle University. Prof. Nick Wright, dean of business development, at the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, said: "PETeC provides an excellent opportunity to increase the interaction between Newcastle University's world-class research teams in electronics and industrial companies."