Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EMERGE (Emerging Printed Electronics Research Infrastructure (EMERGE))
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-01-01 al 2024-06-30
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 M36 is summarized below:
- Between June 2022 and June 2024, , 125 proposals for TA projects by external users were submitted, 98 proposals were approved for implementation, representing 139 applicants. Proposals already concluded (60) represent 389 units of access (UoA) and access to 95 users.
- EMERGE partners already started approaching other European infrastructures to create symbiotic clusters, originating a new infrastructure project (INFRACHIP) and proposal submission to a Competence Centre within ChipsAct.
- KBest platform is now available to EMERGE partners and to external users implementing TA proposals, to test it before releasing to the community.
- Novel, advanced, industrially compatible green printing facilities for high throughput and enhanced performance FLAPEP demonstrators are being developed within the 3 JRAs, to enlarge the TA offer throughout and after EMERGE implementation, including in-line inspection systems in R2R UV-nanoimprinting pilot line, inkjet printing with new sintering process, inkjet printing platform enabling printing and in-situ curing/sintering of UV-curable acrylate resins and conductive structures, combined inkjet and aerosol jet printing unit;
- 2 scientific publications resulting from TA projects already published
- Xfold Imaging (TA user) won Photonics 21 Innovation Award on large area signal-enhancing plasmonic structures making use of JOR’s R2R nanoimprint line.
- 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. 2 EMERGE Schools implemented (Greece in 2023, Portugal in 2024). Training actions reaching more than 500 researchers.
- V1.0 of exploitation plan available in Dec2022. V2.0 in final review stage
- 105 participations in international events (conferences, workshops, exhibitions), 76 scientific publications.
- Between June 2022 and June 2024, , 125 proposals for TA projects by external users were submitted, 98 proposals were approved for implementation, representing 139 applicants. Proposals already concluded (60) represent 389 units of access (UoA) and access to 95 users.
- EMERGE partners already started approaching other European infrastructures to create symbiotic clusters, originating a new infrastructure project (INFRACHIP) and proposal submission to a Competence Centre within ChipsAct.
- KBest platform is now available to EMERGE partners and to external users implementing TA proposals, to test it before releasing to the community.
- Novel, advanced, industrially compatible green printing facilities for high throughput and enhanced performance FLAPEP demonstrators are being developed within the 3 JRAs, to enlarge the TA offer throughout and after EMERGE implementation, including in-line inspection systems in R2R UV-nanoimprinting pilot line, inkjet printing with new sintering process, inkjet printing platform enabling printing and in-situ curing/sintering of UV-curable acrylate resins and conductive structures, combined inkjet and aerosol jet printing unit;
- 2 scientific publications resulting from TA projects already published
- Xfold Imaging (TA user) won Photonics 21 Innovation Award on large area signal-enhancing plasmonic structures making use of JOR’s R2R nanoimprint line.
- 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. 2 EMERGE Schools implemented (Greece in 2023, Portugal in 2024). Training actions reaching more than 500 researchers.
- V1.0 of exploitation plan available in Dec2022. V2.0 in final review stage
- 105 participations in international events (conferences, workshops, exhibitions), 76 scientific publications.
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 internal test within the consortium and with external users with approved TA projects.
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.
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.