Henkel (Düsseldorf, Germany) has signed a joint marketing and development agreement with Smartz AG. This allows the partners to offer hygiene product manufacturers new, market-ready digital health products, enabled by printed electronics. The partnership brings together conductive inks from Henkel´s printed electronics portfolio with Smartz’ existing adult care Internet of Things (IoT) hardware and software solutions. Together, both companies are able to create smart hygiene products that can sense when a wearer needs to be changed or moved, supporting and unburdening medical personnel. With an ageing population and increasing demands for adult care, such solutions provide an effective way to offer improved performance that simplifies the tasks of caregivers. At the same time, it provides dependent people with a less intrusive service and further protection. For Henkel, this is a pillar in its growth strategy for the smart solutions and data-driven services market.
Nuclera (Cambridge, UK), a fast-growing biotech company developing enzymatic protein and gene synthesis technologies, and E Ink (Billerica, Massachusetts), a leading innovator of electronic ink technology, have announced the acquisition of E Ink’s digital microfluidics unit into the newly formed US subsidiary of Nuclera. Combining the technologies of the two companies will enable the delivery of a revolutionary desktop protein and gene “bioprinter” with breakthrough speed and convenience for researchers in human health, agriculture, and other markets of global importance.
The global semiconductor market is growing rapidly. The growth is driven by advancements in IoT, automotive and 5G requiring faster chips that use less power. EUV lithography is a giant leap forward, yet defects in printing remain the greatest constraint to EUV uptake. Silicon is reaching its physical limits too, calling for new material innovations to keep Moore’s Law on track.
