Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EMERGE (Emerging Printed Electronics Research Infrastructure (EMERGE))
Período documentado: 2021-07-01 hasta 2022-12-31
With the development in wireless technology and interconnected devices, we need to ensure the access to affordable, sustainable and modern systems. The key element is that these systems will be portable, flexible, and conformable and are manufactured using eco-sustainable and fully recyclable components. The corresponding fabrication technologies should be in line with a sustainable property respecting the Green Deal concept as recently proposed by the president of the EC. Conversely, we are living in a transition on electronics concepts, which migrate from conventional electronics to more eco-friendly manufacturing processes based on abundant, recyclable eco-materials with much smaller environmental footprint. This technological revolution is consistent with the emerging flexible large-area printed electronics and photonics (FLAPEP) deployment, able to serve different needs, such as interfaces to communicate and transform mobile platforms into smart systems like energy-autonomous sensor networks for the Internet of (Intelligent) Things (Io(I)Ts). This is a crucial and growing field of modern science, technology and a ubiquitous node in the value chain of manufacturing and services.
Research on the fundamental properties of FLAPEP requires access to many knowledge- and capital-intensive infrastructures. EMERGE is establishing the first research infrastructure worldwide to enable the control of the synthesis’ design and manufacturing of conductive, semi-conductive or dielectric inks and pastes, the characterization of their properties and the advanced research on their dynamic and functional behavior for green FLAPEP applications. Besides, advanced demonstrator’s fabrication, characterization and metrology methods, as well the development of validation and standardization processes will be of utmost importance for the establishment of FLAPEP as the dominant player in the future “beyond silicon electronics” era, fully supported by proper design and simulation tools. Machine learning based Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being deeply exploited and serving as an additional tool for a harmonious knowledge-based development of sustainable FLAPEP.
The overall objective of the EMERGE project is to provide access for users working with materials such as paper, textiles or biocompatible polymers to small-footprint FLAPEP technologies, and to enable integration of these technologies in their products. Major goal is the integration of novel devices on conformable, flexible substrates with free-form surfaces by exploiting eco-sustainable materials and processes for innovative product development. This will enhance European competitiveness in mid- and long term and ensure sustainability in line with the Green Deal.
Research on the fundamental properties of FLAPEP requires access to many knowledge- and capital-intensive infrastructures. EMERGE is establishing the first research infrastructure worldwide to enable the control of the synthesis’ design and manufacturing of conductive, semi-conductive or dielectric inks and pastes, the characterization of their properties and the advanced research on their dynamic and functional behavior for green FLAPEP applications. Besides, advanced demonstrator’s fabrication, characterization and metrology methods, as well the development of validation and standardization processes will be of utmost importance for the establishment of FLAPEP as the dominant player in the future “beyond silicon electronics” era, fully supported by proper design and simulation tools. Machine learning based Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being deeply exploited and serving as an additional tool for a harmonious knowledge-based development of sustainable FLAPEP.
The overall objective of the EMERGE project is to provide access for users working with materials such as paper, textiles or biocompatible polymers to small-footprint FLAPEP technologies, and to enable integration of these technologies in their products. Major goal is the integration of novel devices on conformable, flexible substrates with free-form surfaces by exploiting eco-sustainable materials and processes for innovative product development. This will enhance European competitiveness in mid- and long term and ensure sustainability in line with the Green Deal.
Major progress aligned to the specific objectives of EMERGE until M18 is summarized below:
• Between June and December 2022, 34 project proposals from external users were submitted in 3 calls for transnational activity (TA) project. A growing number of submitted projects per call is verified, with a global distribution as follows: 2.0 % - startups; 13.7 % - industries; 23.5 % - SMEs; 23.5 % - RTOs; 37.3 % - universities.
• KBest first beta tester deployed, using on-premises (HMU) computer cluster;
• Novel, advanced, industrially compatible green printing facilities for high throughput and enhanced performance FLAPEP demonstrators in fully agreement with Green Deal initiative of EC are being developed within the 3 joint research activities (JRAs) to enlarge the TA offer throughout and after EMERGE implementation;
• 2 advanced courses at FEMS Junior Euromat 2022 (“Climate Neutrality by 2050: the future of energy” and “Electron Microscopy Techniques”) and 1 European summer school “Cellulose, more than paper!” in Portugal. 1 training school planned in Greece in 2023;
• High level scientific community and science policy makers aware of EMERGE through European Academy of Sciences, e.g. in the EurASc Ceremony 2022 held in 24-25th October 2022 (https://www.eurasc.eu/eurasc-ceremony-2022-2/)
• V1.0 of exploitation plan available in Dec2022, ensuring the provision of an effective business plan strategy within EMERGE;
• 46 participations in international events (conferences, workshops, exhibitions) and 27 scientific publications
• TA project on TiO2/ CeO2 powder mixture for oxygen sensors developed at WUT resulting in 1st publication arising from TAs (https://doi.org/10.3390/s23031313)
• Between June and December 2022, 34 project proposals from external users were submitted in 3 calls for transnational activity (TA) project. A growing number of submitted projects per call is verified, with a global distribution as follows: 2.0 % - startups; 13.7 % - industries; 23.5 % - SMEs; 23.5 % - RTOs; 37.3 % - universities.
• KBest first beta tester deployed, using on-premises (HMU) computer cluster;
• Novel, advanced, industrially compatible green printing facilities for high throughput and enhanced performance FLAPEP demonstrators in fully agreement with Green Deal initiative of EC are being developed within the 3 joint research activities (JRAs) to enlarge the TA offer throughout and after EMERGE implementation;
• 2 advanced courses at FEMS Junior Euromat 2022 (“Climate Neutrality by 2050: the future of energy” and “Electron Microscopy Techniques”) and 1 European summer school “Cellulose, more than paper!” in Portugal. 1 training school planned in Greece in 2023;
• High level scientific community and science policy makers aware of EMERGE through European Academy of Sciences, e.g. in the EurASc Ceremony 2022 held in 24-25th October 2022 (https://www.eurasc.eu/eurasc-ceremony-2022-2/)
• V1.0 of exploitation plan available in Dec2022, ensuring the provision of an effective business plan strategy within EMERGE;
• 46 participations in international events (conferences, workshops, exhibitions) and 27 scientific publications
• TA project on TiO2/ CeO2 powder mixture for oxygen sensors developed at WUT resulting in 1st publication arising from TAs (https://doi.org/10.3390/s23031313)
EMERGE project defined a strategic plan designed to attract and inspire stakeholders from academia, RTOs, SMEs and industry, identified as targets of the dissemination and communication activities, encouraging them to apply for free-of-charge access opportunities to the research infrastructures within EMERGE. Also in line with EMERGE strategy, the FLAPEP KBest repository will be an additional and unique helpful tool for efficient knowledge transfer among the researchers, through an adequate open-data access policy. The KBest platform is currently under construction and the first tests with TA participants will start running during 2023.
To ensure optimized service provision, scientific excellence and potential of innovation, the proposals submitted on the online portal by the research community, during the open calls, must be properly evaluated regarding their technical feasibility and quality of the workplan, and selected according to defined eligibility and ranking criteria that are adjusted according to the abundancy of projects submitted. Within the EMERGE consortium, the TLOs assume a key role in these activities, as they are responsible for the efficient management of the facilities in collaboration with UNOVA MGTT, as well as the expertise and skills available across the consortium. They are also dedicated to user consultancy, local desk-service, technical support and processing of proposals, and coordinate actions in common metrology and protocols.
This way, researchers can exploit the required tools to conduct their project ideas, regardless the location, and acquire complementary capabilities and develop multi-disciplinary skills in the field of FLAPEP through proper training, and create robust and long-lasting collaborations between users and operators of related infrastructures. Yet, it is of major importance to emphasize that this approach is not limited to benefiting only user communities composed of highly skilled research groups. EMERGE also assumes particular relevance to support and empower a wider and newer community of users from all regions of Europe who hold limited expertise, lack of resources, and/ or limited access to open access infrastructures or large-scale facilities to develop their projects.
By the end of EMERGE project, proper platforms and hubs will be established, and industrially compatible fabrication processes to produce feasible, reliable and high-quality flexible sustainable integrated systems and suitable simulation tools to accurately model devices and systems on foils (machine learning) will be developed to be accessed by a wide range of user community.
Gender equality is also a concern in EMERGE. Some indicators at this stage are provided below:
• Gender balance of workforce allocated to EMERGE working at EMERGE partners: 45 % female, 55 % male
• Gender balance of external users with granted projects for TA access: 50 % female, 50 % male.
To ensure optimized service provision, scientific excellence and potential of innovation, the proposals submitted on the online portal by the research community, during the open calls, must be properly evaluated regarding their technical feasibility and quality of the workplan, and selected according to defined eligibility and ranking criteria that are adjusted according to the abundancy of projects submitted. Within the EMERGE consortium, the TLOs assume a key role in these activities, as they are responsible for the efficient management of the facilities in collaboration with UNOVA MGTT, as well as the expertise and skills available across the consortium. They are also dedicated to user consultancy, local desk-service, technical support and processing of proposals, and coordinate actions in common metrology and protocols.
This way, researchers can exploit the required tools to conduct their project ideas, regardless the location, and acquire complementary capabilities and develop multi-disciplinary skills in the field of FLAPEP through proper training, and create robust and long-lasting collaborations between users and operators of related infrastructures. Yet, it is of major importance to emphasize that this approach is not limited to benefiting only user communities composed of highly skilled research groups. EMERGE also assumes particular relevance to support and empower a wider and newer community of users from all regions of Europe who hold limited expertise, lack of resources, and/ or limited access to open access infrastructures or large-scale facilities to develop their projects.
By the end of EMERGE project, proper platforms and hubs will be established, and industrially compatible fabrication processes to produce feasible, reliable and high-quality flexible sustainable integrated systems and suitable simulation tools to accurately model devices and systems on foils (machine learning) will be developed to be accessed by a wide range of user community.
Gender equality is also a concern in EMERGE. Some indicators at this stage are provided below:
• Gender balance of workforce allocated to EMERGE working at EMERGE partners: 45 % female, 55 % male
• Gender balance of external users with granted projects for TA access: 50 % female, 50 % male.