Researchers find sea stars' shape plays an important role in their ability to withstand dynamic water forces and remain attached to surfaces.

On 24-25th of February 2021 IDTechEx attended the Innovations in Large Area Electronics (InnoLAE) conference. Conference attendees were a mix of primarily early-stage companies and academics. This premium article divides a selection of the most interesting and/or commercially relevant talks into 4 sections

The aerogel market is forecast to exceed $700m within the next decade. This may appear modest for a unique material family that has been known for nearly a century, but after long periods of stagnation and several market failings this would represent a significant growth from the market status in 2020. This article will look at what will be driving this growth.

On 23rd February 2021 Nano Dimension organized and hosted a short conference on additively manufactured electronics (AME). IDTechEx was pleased to be invited as a speaker, and gave an overview of what we believe are the most promising future applications for additive electronics manufacturing. This premium article summarizes presentations given at the event.

A new project in Madagascar is using 3D printing to create new schools. Non-profit organisation Thinking Huts has partnered with architectural design agency Studio Mortazavi to create the world's first 3D-printed school on the campus of a university in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. It is aiming to tackle the shortage of educational infrastructure which in many countries contributes to fewer children getting a good education.

Imagine if surgeons could transplant healthy neurons into patients living with neurodegenerative diseases or brain and spinal cord injuries. And imagine if they could "grow" these neurons in the laboratory from a patient's own cells using a synthetic, highly bioactive material that is suitable for 3D printing.

WACKER's ACEO team launches another new-to-the-world material combination that allows silicone elastomers and epoxy thermoset materials to be printed in one single print. The resulting combination of hard and soft materials enables designers and engineers to develop new, highly functional applications.

As VELO3D continues on its accelerated growth path, the company has announced the appointment of Jon Porter to head its commercial operations in Europe. Based in the UK, Porter will oversee VELO3D's ongoing expansion efforts into this key strategic region.

Fine line metal patterning is being pursued for a number of applications, explored here by IDTechEx CEO Raghu Das

Scientists have developed a novel method for producing highly efficient X-ray detectors by using 3D aerosol jet-printing. The X-ray detectors can be easily integrated into standard microelectronics to considerably improve the performance of medical imaging devices.

Machine learning specialist Intellegens and engineering simulation leader Ansys have announced a collaboration to integrate machine learning methods into Additive Manufacturing workflows.

There is a near consensus that today's 5G communications and even its planned enhancement called Beyond 5G, i.e. B5G, will not meet the burgeoning requirements of industry, healthcare, aerospace, smart cities or even home entertainment. They need the services promised by 6G communications, though that has no specifications, roadmap or even frequency decided as yet.

The proof-of-concept incorporates real muscle, fat, and vascular-like system similar to a ribeye from a slaughtered cow, in strategy to build a diverse portfolio of cultivated meat cuts of any dimension.

Given the exciting properties, graphene has always been linked as a revolutionary material for the electronics industry. CVD graphene is cited as the ideal solution in providing a perfect single layer produced in a low cost continuous R2R process, but the manufacturing and commercial reality have proved very different. After a long period of research, and with players regularly exiting and entering the field, we are only now starting to see this technology mature and the dawn of the commercial reality.

Researchers have developed the first 3D-printable "bottlebrush" elastomer. The new material results in printed objects that have unusual softness and elasticity — mechanical properties that closely resemble those of human tissue.

A research team is using 3D printing to produce a new type of bioresorbable airway stent. This could greatly simplify the future treatment of upper airway obstruction.

Scientists have developed a new method for 3D printing living microbes in controlled patterns, expanding the potential for using engineered bacteria to recover rare-earth metals, clean wastewater, detect uranium and more.

3D printing offers an efficient method to improve current manufacturing limits across economic sectors such as transport, construction, and medical and dental industries allowing rapid prototyping and on-site production and repairs.

In this article we introduce some guidelines useful in formulating your strategy. In other articles we have given the latest on tools that are useful such as the profitability V curve and the experience curve.