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Fantastic plastic

Plastic Electronics technology allows circuits to be printed on to any surface and over large areas. It’s a low-cost alternative to conventional silicon-based electronics.

The UK has been at the forefront of this technology and the launch today of a new strategy, entitled Plastic Electronics Strategy for Success: Realising the UK Potential, addresses the challenges that must be overcome to ensure the UK remains a world leader.

Plastic electronics facts

Plastic electronics is estimated to be worth around $2 billion annually. But this is forecast to grow to $120 billion by 2020.

The UK currently employs around 3,000 people in the plastics electronics sector. This is expected to increase to over 50,000 jobs by 2027.

Examples of products incorporating plastic electronics include:

• Food containers that flash when their contents go mouldy
• Smart packaging on pills that beep when you forget to take them
• Intelligent bandages that can measure oxygen levels in a patient’s wound

Quote

Lord Mandelson said:

“The UK is already a global leader in the sector thanks to our world-class science-base and our strengths in research, creativity and innovation. We now need a roadmap for the industry that takes it from cutting edge to mass market while keeping Britain firmly in front.

“This new industry-led strategy is another important step towards achieving the vision defined in New Industry, New Jobs. It sets out Government action to help industry champion the needs of the plastic electronics sector and drive innovation, so that a vibrant mix of manufacturers can unlock the full potential of the technology and exploit its opportunities.”

Podcast

Listen to the podcast of Richard Kirk, Chief Executive Officer of PolyPhotonix, talk about the potential of plastic electronics by using the player below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You can also download the original mp3 file.

Press notice

Read the full BIS press notice here.

Images

For more images, see the BIS Flickr album here.

Strategy

Download Plastic Electronics Strategy for Success: Realising the UK Potential here (PDF 1.40MB)

Links

Read more about how Government is supporting industry through the New Industries New Jobs initiative

The Technology Strategy Board has announced £8 million to facilitate collaborative R&D projects in plastic electronics.

The UK Innovation Investment Fund, which could generate £1 billion of venture capital, will be an important building block for the sector.

Civil nuclear package to back UK businesses

The Government has today announced a package of measures to support the UK civil nuclear industry.

Speaking in Sheffield, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson set out how the package will provide real help for UK-based companies to become an integral part of the domestic nuclear sector and to compete for a share of the expanding global market for civil nuclear power.

The package includes:

• A new Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) to be based in South Yorkshire alongside the AMRC, led by University of Sheffield in partnership with University of Manchester, with Rolls-Royce as the lead industrial partner.
• An additional £8m to upgrade the nuclear laboratories at Manchester University’s Dalton Nuclear Institute to support the NAMRC (in addition to the £15m Government has already committed to the NAMRC).
• Rolls-Royce’s planned civil nuclear factory in South Yorkshire.
• A Nuclear Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) in the North West and Yorkshire, led by NWDA in collaboration with Yorkshire Forward
• As part of the Nuclear LCEA the North West will support the Manufacturing Advisory Service’s (MAS) nuclear services as part of the Nuclear LCEA, offering manufacturing companies advice and support to access the nuclear energy market.

The establishment of the NAMRC was a commitment first made in the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy.

Lord Mandelson said

“We know that we have to make the transition to a low carbon future, and the Government is determined to ensure that British businesses get the support they need to seize the business opportunities that transition creates. The civil nuclear sector is one of the key low carbon industries where the UK has the potential for job creation, economic growth and engineering and manufacturing excellence. Today’s announcement is about investing in our future. A greener, smarter, more skilled, more balanced British economy.”

Energy Minister Lord Hunt said:

“A global climate deal in Copenhagen needs all countries to make the most ambitious commitments possible, but it will also require us to change how we generate our energy. Nuclear is a low carbon and secure source of energy and must be part of our future energy mix if we’re to meet our climate change goals. We’ve already had commitment from industry to build 16GW of new nuclear in the UK. This manufacturing package will ensure we utilise the skills that we have in this country to make sure those power stations get built.”

Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward said:

“Yorkshire Forward has worked closely with Rolls-Royce and the Government to secure both investments and this announcement is incredible news for a part of our region hit hard by the recession. It recognises the cutting edge facilities and the top quality of our academic and business skills base. The UK’s nuclear programme is expected to create over 4,500 engineering jobs over the next 25 years and more than a £1bn a year to the industry. This investment, and others like it, puts the region at the very heart of the UK’s energy sector and cements our position as a centre of excellence for manufacturing, to a global marketplace.”

Press notice
Read the full BIS press notice here.

Links
Nuclear Industry Association: trade association for the UK civil nuclear industry

Nuclear Supply Chain: awareness raising of nuclear opportunities through events and activities.

Low Carbon News hub: resource for journalists and stakeholders interested in low carbon news from Government.

£22m Composites Strategy announced

The Government has announced new investment totalling £22 million to further advance the development of ‘composite’ materials.

The new Composites Strategy explains how Government plans to support British firms involved in manufacturing, utilising and exporting composites and composite technology, with the aim of maintaining the UK’s global lead in this growth field.

Composites are increasingly used for their lightweight, super strength properties in aeroplane wings and racing cars.

The investment is made up of:

• £16m for a new National Composites Centre in the Bristol area (£12m from central Government, £4m from the South West Regional Development Agency.
• £5m for the winning firms to develop new composites manufacturing techniques (to be won via the Technology Strategy Board’s new ‘Grand Challenge’ competition, launched today) and £1m upfront funding to help develop challenge bids.

Quote

Lord Mandelson said:

“Any modern economy is built on the ability to exploit the opportunities on offer by new and existing high value markets – such as composites.

“Our approach is now to back areas of the economy which have the biggest potential to create wealth and jobs and take advantage of the skills of our people.

“Today’s new strategy will help us to exploit the potential of composite materials which could help us lower carbon emissions, make cost savings by making things which last longer and boost our position globally making the UK the place to produce and develop composites.”

“Government has an irreplaceable role in ensuring that the right conditions are in place to support long term growth. This means investing in the county’s high-tech low carbon future including supporting and investing composites.”

Video

Files to download

Advanced Manufacturing Composites Strategy (2MB)

• Northern Ireland overview 405KB
• Welsh overview 85KB
• Scotland overview 31KB
• UK Skills 85KB
• Technology Needs to Support Advanced Composites in the UK 586KB
• Activities of England’s Regional Development Agencies 54KB
• UK industry market profile 221KB

Press notices:

BIS: £22m for high-tech materials for a low carbon future

TSB: £5m prize to be won in unique advanced manufacturing competition

Images

Photos from Lord Mandelson’s visit to Williams F1 to launch the UK Composites Strategy and to view their composite manufacturing facilities. For more images, see the BIS Flickr photo account here.

Manufacturing Strategy: One Year On Event – Views from participants

Pat McFadden, Minister for Business Innovation and Skills and participants at the Manufacturing Strategy: One Year On event talks about why manufacturing matters and the launch of Manufacturing Insight an independent organisation that will play a key part in helping to challenge and change public perceptions of the sector, including campaigns in schools to build enthusiasm for careers in manufacturing.

Read Pat McFadden’s speech from the event

Download the PowerPoint presentation from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills’ Manufacturing Strategy: One Year On event, held 29 October 2009 at NESTA, London.

Video: Stakeholders at launch event respond to measures

Lord Mandelson’s speech at Advanced Manufacturing launch event

Transcript: Lord Mandelson’s speech at Advanced Manufacturing launch event

Advanced Manufacturing package launched

A £150m package of measures to help UK manufacturers seize the opportunities provided by emerging technologies has been launched by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.

Advanced Manufacturing describes businesses which use a high level of design or scientific skills to produce technologically complex products and processes. Because of the specialised requirements involved, these are usually goods and associated services of high value.

Advanced Manufacturing operates at the frontier of new technology, processes and products. It is an important part of a balanced British economy. It is essential that it has continues to have the right long-term framework of support from Government to exploit the opportunities of a growing global economy.

These investments in plastic electronics, the nuclear supply chain, aerospace, and silicon design are another important step towards the Government’s vision for our economic future – as set out in New Industry, New Jobs.  They will expand access to information, encourage take up of new technologies and address specific challenges faced by the aerospace sector.

Videos

Advanced Manufacturing: Stakeholders’ response

Quotes

Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills:

“At the heart of Britain’s knowledge economy is our manufacturing base. High-value, highly skilled and internationally successful businesses that have worked hard to secure a lead in hi-tech global supply chains.

This practical package of measures will help equip British manufacturers, of all sizes and sectors, to take advantage of the advanced technologies and new market opportunities now shaping our industrial future.

It’s about giving them the support they need to create jobs in Britain and export the best of British manufacturing design, technology, skills and innovation around the world.”

Core facts

1. The UK is the world’s sixth largest manufacturer measured by output
2. The UK is a leading exporter of high-tech goods, with 25% of UK goods exports defined as high-tech, compared to 22% in the USA, 15% in France, and 11% in Germany.
3. The global market for Plastic Electronics (electronic circuits printed on to flexible surfaces) is under £1bn now but forecast to grow to £15bn by 2015 and £125bn by 2025.
4. The UK Industrial Biotechnology market is estimated to grow between £4-12bn and the global market between £150-360bn by 2025 in the chemical sector alone.

Press releases

• Advanced Manufacturing – Building Britain’s Future
• Technology Strategy Board
• CBI comment on Advanced Manufacturing
• TUC welcomes major cash boost to Government’s industrial strategy
• Regional Development Agencies welcome Advanced Manufacturing package
• OneNorthEast welcome printable electronics investment
• British Chamber of Commerce – Advanced Manufacturing at the heart of UK economic future

Files to download

Twitter pitch

Tweet the Advanced Manufacturing website