Project description
Sustainable flexible electronics for the future of healthcare in Europe
European nations face increasing healthcare costs with ageing populations. There is a need for medical devices to be more sustainable and lower-cost. Chronic and acute diseases require medical devices that offer reliable and rapid data that provide actionable insights. They should be cost-effective and have low environmental footprint. The EU-funded SusFE project aims to develop a sustainable design and production platform for the next generation of wearable and diagnostic devices. The project team will combine novel flexible integrated circuit (FlexIC) printed sensors and a biodegradable paper-based power source to create a roll-to-roll manufacturing platform. SusFE uses a combination of sustainable materials and processes to deliver eco-friendly solutions for wound healing monitoring, self blood sampling and point-of-care devices.
Objective
Europe currently has a leading position in key digital technologies. However, functional electronics is one of several emerging digital transformation areas with no established players, but with the potential to significantly disrupt strategic sectors. Harnessing the full potential of functional electronics will enable Europe to exploit cutting-edge climate-neutral digital solutions to strengthen its leadership, and to seize on emerging opportunities by addressing existing technological gaps in multiple sectors.
Functional Electronics has found application in a wide range of sectors and domains including in hybrid Integrated circuits (ICs) or flexible systems. Its global market was worth €15.4billion in 2017 and is expected to reach €37.7billion by 2023, a CAGR of 11%. Despite this growth, functional electronics can generate additional value via the adoption and implementation of new and efficient eco-design approaches at product, process, and business model levels.
SusFE will advance the development of functional electronics for green and circular economy by developing a sustainable design and production platform for roll-to-roll manufacturing of the next generation of wearable and diagnostic devices that combine a SusFE toolbox of sustainable components comprising novel flexible integrated circuit (FlexIC) on polymer substrate with ultra-low power printed sensors/biosensors, and wireless communication driven by an organic and recyclable bioenzymatic fuel cell. This will lead to highly integrated and autonomously operating systems that are lightweight, environmentally sustainable, and low-cost. SusFE uses of a combination of sustainable materials and processes to deliver climate-neutral digital solutions including wound monitoring, self-blood sampling/testing and point-of-care devices.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssystem softwareoperating systems
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
28050 Madrid
Spain