Scientists at IIT-Kanpur conducted a brainstorming session where Indian industry experts and leading academic and research institutions took part.
Flexible electronics are catching pace all over the world. Not only are researchers working on finding new techniques to build them, manufacturers are showing keen interest on bringing this technology to the market. While it is finding space in healthcare, power, lighting, defence to name a few, it is expected to soon find space commercially. India is keen to join the bandwagon. Scientists at IIT-Kanpur conducted a brainstorming session with Indian industry experts and leading academic and research institutions took part.
There was a specific proposal of developing a centre on flexible electronics at IIT Kanpur which can help catalyse the process by providing developmental platforms to the industries and working closely with them to develop prototype innovative products, TOI reported.
Professor YN Mahapatra of IIT-Kanpur also told the attendees that he had spoken to R Chidambaram, principal scientific adviser to PM and he supported such a drive in the country. He also said that IIT-Kanpur with its experience and capability can play a leadership role in this area.
Mahapatra also told TOI that the rapid rise in the demand for cost effective consumer electronic products, especially for healthcare, packaging, power generation and lighting, military and logistics, is going to be a major driving factor for flexible electronics, requiring products to be flexible and lighter and having ability to conform to various shapes. These flexible electronic products are displays, photovoltaic panels, batteries, sensors, memories, and radio-frequency identification devices (RFIDs).
