CPI Opens its Doors to Local University Students

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) recently hosted an event that provided university students with the opportunity to see inside the workings of the cutting-edge facilities at its Printable Electronics Technology Centre (PETEC) at NETPark, Sedgefield.

The day provided 60 undergraduate and MSc students from the universities of Durham, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside with the opportunity to learn about the exciting printable electronics industry, its technologies and the skills needed to secure jobs with companies operating in this emerging market.

The day included a varied program, which met the interests of the degree and masters students in attendance. Interactive presentations from CPI’s experts and the directors of two companies currently utilizing PETEC’s facilities, relayed market knowledge and offered students the chance to question career paths and technology application. Students also experienced a range of products, working demonstrators and a tour of the state-of-the-art facility.

Students studying electronic and electrical engineering, optical communication engineering, chemical engineering, product design and physics attended the day and benefited from CPI’s market insight. They also gained a visual understanding of what the technology means for the real-world marketable products of today, and were given a glimpse of what it would be like to take their current research work to the next level by working in an innovative and technology-driving environment.

“PETEC’s success is a result of the combination of a wide range of skills and expertise,” said Steve Spruce, operations manager at PETEC. “Our commercial, scientific, engineering and administrative staff work closely together making sure our clients get their new printed electronics products to market as quickly as possible. This event was designed to give local students a real insight into how this works in practice, and to allow them to see the sort of career paths this exciting new technology opens up for them. PETEC is currently working with over 40 companies in the North of England and has many more clients from all over the globe.”

CPI would like to thank the sponsors of the event: the Institute of Physics, County Durham Development Company and NETPark.

“It’s been very interesting to see how the day has run on two parallel lines: there’s been an insight into the technology – and it’s been great to see where it can go in the future – but also given an insight into possible careers for our students,” Dr. Alan Fell, engineering team leader at Sunderland University, said. “Careers and technology now seem attainable for the students, and it has almost acted as a microscopic snapshot of a placement for them.”

“It’s not what I was expecting from the day,” Dr. Peter Harrington, program leader for electrical and electronic engineering at Northumbria University, said. “These events tend to be much more company-focused, but this has made for an interesting alternative and the students have reacted really well.”

“Printable electronics is something new and very exciting, and I’ve gained a lot from the day – my desire is to work in printable electronics,” Dobromil Duda, second-year electronic and electrical engineering degree student at Sunderland University said.

“It’s been very interesting to see the commercial application of technologies and to visualize the end products,” Andreas Hohls, second-year product design student at Teesside University, said. “From a design perspective, it’s been excellent to understand more about what the products can and can’t do.

“It’s been helpful the way CPI employees have shared with us what they have done– it makes you realize you can achieve it yourself,” Hohls added.

“It has been an exciting day and it’s been encouraging to see young students being so involved in a technology area that will support this industry,” Tom Taylor, director of CPI’s Printable Electronics Technology Centre, concluded. “PETEC’s role is to provide resources and technology to support UK industry in developing printable electronics products, and it is key to ensure the future workforce has the relevant skill sets to support this.”