Objective
We intend to enable greater competitiveness and internationalisation of the SME dominated printing community. There are some 68,000 EU SME's in the printing sector, 6% (4,000) of which we use laser or InkJet printing systems to print products such as plastic films for in mould labelling, packaging, and smartcards. The proposed technology could enable these printers to sell their services into an entirely new, and much higher added value application; printing flexible electronic circuits as components for manufacturing industry.
In addition, SMEs already in the electronics sector, of which there are 17,500 which could also exploit the proposed technology to add functionality to the circuits they currently manufacture in-house. The printing industry is characterised by SME providing varying printing services from large format through to commercial printing of company brochures. The vibrant growth in the Asian printing market of 10.6% has resulted in a reduction in growth of the European printing industry.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systems
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkaline earth metals
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-SME-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Cooperative - SMEs-Co-operative research contractsCoordinator
LOUGHBOROUGH, LEICESTERSHIRE
United Kingdom