The intelliFLEX Innovation Alliance (Ottawa), a not-for-profit industry alliance and the voice of the Printed Electronics (PE) industry in Canada, has added to its membership two institutions with significant strengths in wearables and flexible electronics. The University of Windsor is a comprehensive, student-focused university, with more than 15,000 students enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Several research groups focus on material design, synthesis and wearable electronics. Areas of research include: low-cost plastic electronic devices with mechanical flexibility for use in flexible and wearable electronics, as well as implantable medical sensors that can bend and stretch; new self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and alkyl groups to control nanoscale structure of SAMs, the formation of mixed SAMs, and ultimately, the fabrication of stimuli-responsive surfaces; stretchable and self-healable polymers for the fabrication of entirely stretchable electronic devices; organogel and hydrogel formation for drug delivery and self-healing materials; and formation of dynamic polymers for highly defined and nano-structured organic semiconductors. The University of Windsor’s faculty and staff are interested in connecting with other researchers and industry in the printable and flexible electronics field, specifically in wearable electronics and/or materials design and synthesis.
George Brown College in Toronto has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. It has over 29,200 full-time students, including 17% international students, and over 67,300 continuing education registrations. George Brown’s industry-focused applied research and innovation research exchanges provide industrial companies with IP-friendly assistance to integrate flexible electronics into products along with product validation in niche-use cases. The college can assist with the design and fabrication of early-stage prototypes that employ flexible electronics and their associated enabling technologies for manufacturing and testing. The college has extensive expertise in the development of wearables, focusing on their integration and function in apparel, textiles and jewelry. Dedicated simulated health care and home research environments enable real-world evaluations of health and clean technologies, optionally incorporating consumer usability testing. George Brown also provides access to a broad network of downstream service providers to advance prototypes to manufacture readiness.
“Canada’s colleges and universities are crucial players in the ecosystem for printable, flexible and hybrid electronics,” said Peter Kallai, President and CEO of intelliFLEX. “With the launch of our intelliWEAR program for wearables, theUniversity of Windsor and George Brown College are welcome additions to help our industrial members find global success in the many facets of this technology area.” If you’re interested in connecting with the University of Windsor or George Brown College, please contact Kallai at pkallai@intelliflex.org or phone 613-505-4775, Ext. 101, and he can facilitate an introduction. To become a member of the intelliFLEX Innovation Alliance, please also contact Kallai. The IntelliFLEX Alliance also has opportunities for corporate and media sponsorships of its programs and events.
University of Windsor and George Brown College join intelliFLEX
