OE-A Announces Winners of OE-A Competition, Start-up Forum at LOPEC 2023

This year’s OE-A Competition has proved the innovative strength and surprised with new market-ready applications of flexible, organic, and printed electronics. Sixteen companies and institutes from around the globe submitted their latest visions and products to the OE-A Competition 2023. New ideas and products illustrating the potential and ability of printed electronics are recognized with the awards.

The competition is annually organized by OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association), a working group within VDMA. The four best submissions were rewarded at LOPEC 2023, the international exhibition and conference for printed electronics, in Munich, Germany. At LOPEC 2023 all projects were showcased at the OE-A booth.

“The bandwidth of projects contributed was impressive. From a biosensor test kit, which decrease virus spreading to a smart door panel, a sensing glove and a smart ski that ‘feels’ the vibrations of a downhill run and other inspiring ideas played a major role in this year’s OE-A Competition. There is no doubt that printed electronics has great momentum,” said Dr. Klaus Hecker, managing director of OE-A.

The jury, consisting of representatives from international companies and institutes, rated 16 submissions from 10 countries in three categories. LOPEC attendees were also allowed to vote. At the OE-A booth visitors were encouraged to choose their favorite project for the “Public Choice Award”.

The awards were officially handed over during the LOPEC Award Show to the following winners:

• Best Prototype / New Product
Large Area Connecting Device
InnovationLab (Germany)

• Best Freestyle Demonstrator
Printed Perovskite Solar Energy Module
VTT (Finland)

• Best Publicly Funded Project Demonstrator
Smart Ski
Joanneum (Austria)

• Public Choice Award
3D Formed Touch Sensor
Hochschule der Medien (Germany)


As a part of the LOPEC Business Conference, the OE-A supports young companies and start-ups with the Start-up Forum.

“The Start-up Forum is the place for young entrepreneurs to present their innovative ideas, business cases, and products to the broader audience. The objective is to win investors and funding to commercialize their products. And not to forget, the chance to network and connect to future business partners are massive, too,” said Wolfgang Mildner, general chair of LOPEC. The Start-up exhibition area combined with the opportunity to give a short talk at the Start-up Forum gives high visibility to the young companies taking part.

Two awards were presented:

• Best Business Case
Olivier Van Coppenolle
Molecular Plasma Group (Luxembourg)

• Most Impactful Technology / Product
Maria Neugschwender, Marius Neugschwender
Noxon (Germany)

OE-A will continue the tradition of the OE-A Competition. In the coming year, the projects will be presented and awarded again. The competition contributions will be showcased at the OE-A booth during the next LOPEC, which will take place in Munich on
March 5-7, 2024.