January 29, 2016 | Eli Freund - School of Engineering

UConn Becomes Founding Member of Flexible Electronics Institute

UConn has become a founding member of Nextflex, a flexible electronics manufacturing research institute that will spur national development in this emerging field. UConn will host a Nextflex Industry Workshop on February 18, 2016 to introduce Connecticut companies to the institute’s activities. Flexible electronics refers to a new generation of bendable and wearable electronic sensors […]

Technician holding a flexible electric circuit layout.
Technician holding a flexible electric circuit layout.

UConn has become a founding member of Nextflex, a flexible electronics manufacturing research institute that will spur national development in this emerging field. UConn will host a Nextflex Industry Workshop on February 18, 2016 to introduce Connecticut companies to the institute’s activities.

Flexible electronics refers to a new generation of bendable and wearable electronic sensors and components that can be used in a wide range of applications. These electronics can be used in smart bandages, high-tech military uniforms, or a variety of building structures for structural health monitoring. One of Nextflex’s primary goals is to expand the development and use of this technology.

The Nextflex Industry Workshop will highlight different uses for this versatile technology, with sessions on medical devices and human monitoring systems; asset monitoring systems; and device integration, packaging and manufacturing. The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

There will be two project calls from Nextflex in April and July 2016. Connecticut businesses and educational institutions can work together to develop project proposals to request funding from Nextflex.

Nextflex is the seventh public-private research consortium created by President Obama’s administration to ensure that the United States continues its leadership in manufacturing. There are over 145 contributors to the institute from industry, state governments and educational institutions from 27 states. By becoming a founding member, UConn is in a position to expand flexible electronics research, which will allow Connecticut to take advantage of the anticipated growth in this expanding field and further reinforce Connecticut’s innovation economy. Members of the institute will have access to workforce development activities that expand skills important to this emerging industry.

To date, UConn, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and United Technologies Corporation have acted as leaders in organizing the Connecticut effort. Procedures are being created to allow all interested Connecticut companies, agencies and universities who are not a part of Nextflex to participate.

For additional information about the industry workshop or project proposals, please email nextflex@engr.uconn.edu.