Printed electronics: Bright prospects for 2025
Despite economic headwinds in 2024, the printed electronics industry is expected to grow significantly in 2025. This strong momentum and optimistic outlook align closely with the key themes of LOPEC 2025, which will focus on the industry's drive for innovation, sustainability and market expansion, explains Wolfgang Mildner, owner of MSWtech in Nuremberg, Germany, Fellow of the OE-A and General Chair of LOPEC.
With increasing investment in research and development (R&D) and employment growth, printed electronics is poised for a breakthrough year. The latest OE-A survey, conducted twice a year by the Organic and Printed Electronics Association (OE-A), a working group within VDMA, reflects the industry's cautious stance in 2024. The turnover growth forecast has been revised down to 7%, significantly lower than the 13% projected in March. Key reasons include global economic uncertainties, a slowing automotive sector – particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) – and delayed investments in production. However, the downturn appears temporary. The survey indicates a major shift in business confidence for 2025, as companies re-focus on innovation-driven growth, expansion into key markets and new application areas.
This momentum is reflected in R&D and workforce expansion trends, with 46% of companies planning to increase their R&D activities – a sharp rise from previous reports. Similarly, the employment outlook has improved significantly, with nearly half of surveyed firms intending to hire more staff, up from a mere 7% in March 2024. These indicators demonstrate an industry in transition, setting the stage for an exciting LOPEC 2025, where the transformative potential of printed electronics will be on display.
LOPEC 2025: A platform for the industry’s future
As the leading international exhibition and conference for printed electronics, LOPEC 2025 will highlight the very trends that will shape the industry's next phase of growth. The event will focus on sustainability, digital health, automotive applications and hybrid electronics, all of which resonate strongly with the OE-A survey results.
1. Sustainability: A key driver of growth
The printed electronics industry is embracing sustainable materials, energy-efficient production methods and circular economy principles. As companies prioritise R&D investment, the shift towards environmentally friendly, recyclable and biodegradable electronics is gaining traction. This is particularly relevant given the challenges in the EV sector, where printed electronics can contribute to lighter, more efficient battery components and energy management systems. LOPEC 2025 will showcase advances in printed sensors, organic photovoltaics (OPV) and energy storage solutions, reinforcing sustainability as a key industry driver.
2. Healthcare & wearables: Expanding market potential
Healthcare continues to be a major growth area for printed electronics, with applications ranging from smart medical patches to biosensors and flexible diagnostic devices. The OE-A survey highlights renewed optimism for 2025, and healthcare technologies are expected to play a major role in this resurgence. Printed electronics enables real-time health monitoring and remote patient care, improving the efficiency of medical diagnosis and treatment. At LOPEC 2025, leading innovators will showcase breakthroughs in flexible hybrid electronics, electronic skin patches and sensor-integrated textiles, in perfect alignment with the industry's R&D focus.
3. Automotive: Recovery and new opportunities
While 2024 will see a slowdown in the automotive sector, particularly in electric vehicles, 2025 presents a window of opportunity. As manufacturers focus on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), human machine interfaces (HMI) and interior electronics, printed electronics will play a critical role in improving the functionality and sustainability of vehicles. The OE-A survey's surge in employment and investment reflects confidence in the sector, with many companies betting on flexible touch controls, smart surfaces and lightweight conductive materials. These innovations will take centre stage at LOPEC 2025, where printed electronics will be showcased as a game-changer for the next generation of mobility solutions.
4. Hybrid electronics: Bridging the gap between traditional and printed electronics
Hybrid electronics, which combine printed and conventional components, is emerging as a key enabler of advanced functionality. The results of the OE-A survey – particularly the shift towards long-term investment in R&D – point to a growing emphasis on hybrid systems for smart packaging, IoT applications and industrial automation. LOPEC 2025 will highlight hybrid printed electronics for smart labels, smart packaging and connected devices, reinforcing the industry's expansion into consumer electronics and beyond.
Innovation and market expansion: The road ahead
The latest OE-A Business Climate Survey highlights the industry's strategic focus on innovation, with LOPEC 2025 serving as a key showcase for cutting-edge printed electronics technologies. As the industry looks beyond short-term economic challenges, its emphasis on sustainability, digital health, automotive applications and hybrid systems positions printed electronics as a high-growth market for 2025 and beyond.
Bringing together global leaders, start-ups and research pioneers, LOPEC 2025 will serve as the ultimate platform to explore, collaborate and drive the next wave of printed electronics innovation. From sustainable electronics to smart healthcare solutions, from automotive breakthroughs to hybrid electronic systems, the themes of LOPEC 2025 are perfectly aligned with the industry's growth trajectory for the coming year. Two conference sessions will focus on the most dynamic and prominent application areas, Mobility and Smart Living, providing attendees with an overview and detailed state-of-the-art application presentations.
2025 promises to be a transformative year, opening up new applications, markets and business opportunities for printed electronics. LOPEC 2025 will be at the epicentre of this evolution, showcasing the very technologies that will define the future of printed electronics. Join the industry at LOPEC 2025 and witness the future of printed electronics!
Caption: The author Wolfgang Mildner is owner of MSWtech in Nuremberg, Germany, fellow of the OE-A and General Chair of LOPEC.
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