Project description
Unbreakable cables for high-tech applications
Cables in electronic devices tend to wear out over time. Nowhere is this problem more evident than in headphones. To counter this, the traditional approach has been to focus on materials that reinforce a cable’s mechanical properties, but this compromises flexibility. With the help of the EU-funded FlexOne project, Switzerland-based company Nanoleq is developing a fundamentally new type of cable technology based on new conductive and stretchable materials. This will result in a service-life that is up to 100 times longer than standard cables at no cost to their flexibility. The innovation is also applicable to a host of other fields, including medical technology, robotics and even aerospace.
Objective
Cables break as a consequence of repeated mechanical stress, the copper wire inside the cable sheath inevitably breaks or disconnects from the connector. Although the cable represents a minor part of such devices, it is still to date the limiting component of their lifetime. This problem does not only concern headphones, but every electronic system where cables move, as pacemakers or high-end consumer electronics. With applications identified in medtech, robotics, consumer electronics and aerospace, the potential market size of $300 million is considerable.
FlexOne represents a novel highly stretchable and conductive composite materials. The composite is incorporated into the cable such that it ensures conductivity even in the case of a core wire break, which is the most common failure source of cables that undergo mechanical stress.
The flex lifetime of our cable prototypes has been quantified using a standard industry protocol provided by Sennheiser. Excellent first results showed a lifetime improvement by a factor up to 100.
We differ from our competitors because we focus on reinforcing the conductor using new stretchable and conductive materials while others mainly target mechanical reinforcement, i.e. making the cable stiffer, which does not prevent the intrinsic fatigue of traditional metal conductors. Other solutions relying on wireless or redundancy systems exist but are limited to certain applications.
We will empower cable manufacturers to fabricate and sell FlexOne material. We will sell them a “ready-to-use” material mixture, required for the unique properties of the cables. And, also we will share our know-how on the integration of the FlexOne technology in their standard process flow in exchange for access fees.
We want to dedicate the next years to make our cable technology the new standard for high-end electronic companies. In the future, there will be no more pain, financial loss and risk associated with the wear of cables.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.1.2. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Nanotechnologies
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.1.5. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing
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H2020-EU.2.1.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials
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H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8153 Rumlang
Switzerland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.