CPES2016 Adds Awards Program

The Canadian Printable Electronics Industry Association has opened the call for submissions for its inaugural Innovation Awards. The awards will be announced at its annual symposium, CPES2016, which will take place April 19-20, at Sheridan College’s new conference center in Toronto.  

For its first year, the CPES Innovation Awards will feature two award categories, to recognize achievements in research innovation and industrial commercialization.

“Canadian organizations are pioneering great innovations using printable, flexible and wearable electronics that will drive the Internet of Things and remake how we live, work and play,” said Peter Kallai, president and CEO of the CPEIA and Chair of the CPES Organizing Committee. “This will impact a wide range of sectors such as health care, consumer products, intelligent buildings, connected homes, smart packaging, smart auto-parts and aerospace, just to name a few.”

According to market research firm IDTechEx, the total market for printable, flexible and wearable electronics will grow from US$26.54 billion in 2016 to $69.03 billion in 2026.

Award applicants should highlight collaboration across the industry ecosystem between various industry and R&D players, to address real needs and opportunities in various market verticals.

Research Innovation: This award is for a research project completed in the past year into underlying technical principles, the proof of concept that can enable the development of new and innovative products and applications for printable, flexible or wearable electronics. Such proof of concept has been validated and tested and is ready for commercialization.

Eligible are Canadian universities, not-for-profit R&D organizations and colleges. Emphasis will be placed on projects that were carried out in collaboration with industry partners.

Most Innovative New Product/Commercialization: This applies to a device, product, material or application that involves or enables printable, flexible or wearable electronics. The award is open to any for-profit organization of any size.

The product must have become commercially available within the past 12 months. Nominations must describe what benefits the product delivers to the customer/end user, the broader market need it is intended to address, the size of its expected addressable market, and evidence of market uptake and impact.

The submission deadline is Jan. 22, 2016.