Printed Electronics Europe 2009: Germany an Innovation Hotbed

Dresden (ots) - Germany is a hotbed for innovative technologies
and a prime location for microelectronics, a fact confirmed by
Dresden's selection as host of the Printed Electronics Europe 2009
conference. The region surrounding the city boasts over 43,500
employees in approximately 1,200 companies in this industry.
Companies and research institutes involved in the development of
printed electronics, the next generation of technology, will gather
April 7-8 at this year's conference in Dresden.

Printed electronics is a quickly growing field. According to
conference organizer and market research firm IDTechEx, the market
for printed electronics, including organics, inorganics and
composites, is expected to increase dramatically in the near future.
Currently a USD 1.92 billion market, some estimates expect this
industry to grow thirtyfold over the next ten years, although an
exact figure is hard to establish given the current economic climate.
Nevertheless, growth in this industry is expected to continue despite
the downturn.

Printed electronics is an emerging USD 300 billion market that
offers a wide range of potential beyond the traditional organic
electronics industry. Printed electronics includes thin film
transistor circuits (TFTCs), displays, connectors, power sensors, and
actuators. These components have a wide range of applications in
fields such as RFID, photovoltaics, medical applications, smart
textiles, and flexible organic LEDs. This technology therefore
provides a foundation for innovation across a variety of sectors.

Germany is home to Europe's leading electronics market and medical
devices market, while it is a global leader in renewable energies. As
Europe's strongest economy, the global export leader, and European
patent application champion, Germany is a high-tech pioneer, a fact
that will likely have a positive effect on the printed electronics
sector.

Driven by the high-tech clusters in the so-called "Silicon Saxony"
region, which includes Dresden, Germany is a leader in the
development and implementation of printed electronics technology. The
first factories are emerging in Germany, including the Plastic Logic
plant for flexible displays in Dresden. Germany's expertise in
industrial production, printing processes, and chemicals - all
essential elements to printed electronics - make it a leading
location for investments in this field.

Germany Trade & Invest provides a wide range of services for
investors. In this sector, Plastic Logic benefitted from these
services throughout its entire investment process. Germany Trade &
Invest will be present at information booth N° 33 during the two-day
conference in Dresden to inform potential investors of Germany's
advantages as an investment location for printed electronics.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization
advises and supports foreign companies seeking to expand into the
German market and assists companies established in Germany looking to
enter foreign markets. All inquiries are treated confidentially.

Originaltext: Germany Trade and Invest
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Media Contact:
Eva Henkel
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