SEMI FlexTech Announces 2026 FLEXI Award Winners

FlexTech, a SEMI Technology Community, announced winners of the 2026 FLEXI Awards presented at the FLEX Conference on February 25 at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. 

FlexTech recognizes innovations and other outstanding accomplishments in flexible hybrid electronics (FHE).

The 2026 FLEXI Awards spotlight FHE contributions in six categories: R&D Achievement, Product Innovation, Environmental Sustainability, Technology Leadership in Workforce Development, Industry Leadership, and Lifetime Achievement.

2026 FLEXI Award Winners

Environmental Sustainability Champion – Dr. Masoud Mahjouri-Samani

NanoPrintek introduces the world’s first dry, ink-free, multimaterial electronics printing platform, enabling on-demand, conformal, and supply-chain-independent manufacturing. 

This breakthrough delivers unmatched flexibility, precision, and sustainability for next-generation flexible and hybrid electronics.

This award recognizes and honors an individual for their volunteering efforts and contributions in advancing the flexible and hybrid electronics industry towards environmental sustainability.

Product Innovation – Voltera

Voltera, led by Jesus Zozaya, is driving product innovation in flexible electronics with V-One and NOVA, enabling low-cost, low-waste additive manufacturing. Their advocacy for FHE promotes awareness and adoption of sustainable, on-demand circuit printing technologies.

SEMI FlexTech presents this award to a company for introducing an innovation in flexible electronics products in the last twelve months. 

Technology Leadership in Workforce Development – Dr. Benyamin Davaji

Dr. Benyamin Davaji, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University, advances digital twins and AI for flexible electronics manufacturing, delivering influential research, democratized education, and workforce development. 

His integrated model couples high-impact publications with hands-on training, cultivating industry transformation and next-generation manufacturing talent.

This award recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to the flexible electronics industry through education via a certified education institution, re-skilling of the present workforce, or internal corporate workforce development activity. 

Judging is based on the quality of education, practical applicability, number of students completing the course, and degree of focus on flexible, printed electronics.

R&D Achievements – Dr. Felippe J. Pavinatto

Dr. Felippe Pavinatto, Senior Engineer, GE Aerospace, advances FHE innovation through pioneering work in additive manufacturing, harsh-environment sensors, integrated electronics, and functional materials, driving scalable processes and impactful research that has strengthened next-generation FHE across multiple industries.

SEMI FlexTech evaluates entries for this award based on their world-class research approach, originality, and commercial potential for expanding the scope of flexible or printed electronics or their manufacturing processes. 

Industry Leadership – Stephaney Shanks Ph.D.

Dr. Stephaney D. Shanks, Vice President, AV, is a leading innovator advancing flexible hybrid electronics through wearable sensing, technical gap analysis, and high-impact programs. Her leadership drives reliable, real-world human performance technologies and strengthens U.S. readiness across defense and health sectors.

This award honors an individual who has built awareness of the capabilities and possibilities that flexible and hybrid electronics bring to the broader field of electronics and who has demonstrated outstanding industry leadership in public forums, association activity, and within their organization.

Lifetime Achievement – Dr. John A. Rogers

Professor Rogers, Director, Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, is a leading scientist in printed and flexible electronics, especially relating to the bio-application industry. 

His work is focused on solving real-world problems and results in many startup company spin-offs.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose career has been defined by sustained excellence, visionary thinking, and transformative impact.  

2026 Innovators of the Future Award Winners

This award showcases emerging talent in the flexible electronics industry who are eager to make an impact by re-imagining how flexible technology can be used in a broad range of applications, from wearable devices to precision agriculture. 

Awards went to the top three presenters, selected based on their knowledge of the project and ability to clearly present the objective, process, and their findings. 

1. Ajay Pratap, Boise State University— “Multifunctional MXene PVBVA e-tattoos for sensing, energy harvesting, and charge storage.”
2. Daniel Bousquet, University of Massachusetts Lowell— “Development of an X-Band Frequency Selective Surface for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding in Harsh Environments.”
3. Morgan Michael, University of Massachusetts Lowell— “Vinyl Norbornene Low-Loss Dielectric for Harsh Environment Printable Electronics.”