OE-A announces winners of OE-A Competition and Start-up Forum at LOPEC 2023
Innovation is at the heart of the OE-A Competition. The winners of the annual printed electronics competition and the Start-Up Forum were announced 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. 16 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 recognised with the awards. The competition is annually organised 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,” states 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 favourite 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)
The webinar “Printed Electronics Insights: OE-A Competition 2023 – The Winners” will take place on 19 April, 16.00 h CEST. The winners of each category will present online their projects to the community and all those who are interested in the further development of printed electronics. The OE-A Competition 2024 will be launched in June.
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 commercialise their products. And not to forget, the chance to network and connect to future business partners are massive, too,” explains 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 5-7 March 2024.
Caption: Proud winners of the OE-A Competition and LOPEC Start-up Forum 2023 (photo: Messe München)