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Plastic Electronics in Germany

• Mapping Germany's technological competence in Plastic Electronics
• 'Take away' insights from the German Competence Matrix

Mapping Germany's technological competence in plastic electronics

An analysis of Germany’s competence in printed and plastic electronics was completed at the end of October 2008. Following a similar exercise for the UK (for more information click here), the objective was to identify how plastic electronics is being developed in Germany, in terms of materials and technologies being used and the scale at which activity is being conducted.

The resulting Competence Matrix is intended to enable companies and universities identify collaboration partners in Germany, and to help policy-makers identify areas of strength and weakness in the UK’s presence in the industry by comparing UK activity with that in Germany.

The Competence Matrix has been prepared by Cathy J Curling (an independent technical consultant with extensive experience in thin film and plastic electronics acting on behalf of the University of Reading).

The Competence Matrix for Germany comes in two sections, each in a separate file. Section 1 covers universities and institutes, including the Fraunhofer institutes which appear first, and section 2 covers companies. Please read these files with their supporting documentation. Any enquiries should be directed in the first instance to Zella King at z.king@henley.reading.ac.uk or info@printedelectronics.net

Note that the matrix only includes entities with R&D and/or production activities relevant to plastic electronics. To be included, their activities have to be identifiable from information in the public domain. (For more information about how entities are chosen for inclusion, see section

The matrix contains two sections (each in a separate file), the first covering university departments and the second covering companies. Each section is divided into five parts:

1. Main classification – each entity is categorised in terms of its technology areas and its role in the plastics electronics value chain
2. Materials and technologies – covers technology areas in more detail, and provides information on the scale of technology research and development and progress towards proof-of-product
3. Specific Application/Product areas – indicates which application areas the emerging technologies are intended for
4. Component Manufacture and Supply – indicates whether the entity is involved in the supply of finished components, and the position of that component in the Plastic Electronics value chain
5. Business Model and Financing Status – shows how the organisation is funded and its main business model(s) (e.g. licensing of IP, direct supply to customers)

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Take away insights from the German Competence Matrix

A quick glance at the Germany Competence Matrix reveals a number of differences relative to the UK. (For the UK matrix click here)

• Less innovative development, especially in materials, inks, and technology and design, and more activity in process scale-up and prototype development (see Part 1 of the Competence Matrix)

• Entities covering more thin-film processing steps, and higher levels of activity in back-end integration (see Part 2)

• A wider range of applications covered, with more activity in RFID, smart cards and packaging, games, and disposable electronics (see Part 3)

• Lower levels of supply of materials and inks, and greater activity in the manufacture and supply of complete systems (in relatively low volumes) (see Part 4)

• Fewer small companies, lower dependence on government and venture funding, less use of licensing business models, more established companies (see Part 5)

These preliminary observations support the commonly held view of Germany as a more industrialised nation, with greater levels of government support for coordinated activity across the value chain (through the Fraunhofer institutes for example). They also demonstrate the UK's continued leadership in the innovative development of components and materials that fuel the early stage of the plastic electronics value chain.

Further analysis of the differences between the two nations is in progress, and will be available in this website in due course. In the meantime, please direct enquiries to Zella King at z.king@henley.reading.ac.uk

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