Dear Reader,

We have a birthday coming up - OE-A turns 20 this fall. We celebrate 20 successful years of printed electronics network & partnerships.

As an industry association we are very proud of the achievements of the printed electronics community. What began with the deceptively simple idea of printing conductors on plastic (how hard can it has evolved into a set of complex technologies with many areas of specialization. The business impact has been profound and is still growing, with implementation of these technologies in applications including consumer electronics, medical devices, automotive, and energy generation and storage. In fact, these technologies have become a helpful part of everyday life for much of the worlds’ population. At the OE-A, we would also like to bring attention to how these technologies have catalyzed diverse relationships. The innovation and commercialization chain includes companies small and large, new and old and universities and institutes. The geographical span is truly global and has brought people together all over the world. Different cultures, languages, ethnic backgrounds, and genders are all contributing to this growing community, strengthening our overall success and providing perspective and insights crucial for moving forward. We can see this in the make-up of the OE-A, where we strive to recognize our diversity and create a healthy, safe, and successful environment for all. We can’t do this without you, and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and partners for their great work and support - to many more chapters of this success story.

At the OE-A Meeting in Norderstedt/Hamburg on September 24-25, we’ll be celebrating our anniversary with, of course, a birthday cake! We also have an outstanding agenda at our host company tesa, and opportunities for company tours at our host tesa, Elantas and Kroenert. It’s a good chance to connect with our community and find the right takeaways for you.

In support of our diversity, our Women in PE Working Group is hosting a webinar on how to harness intercultural diversity to strengthen your business. Be sure to mark your calendar for October 10. Marc Jacobs, co-founder of Molecular Plasma Group and The Culture Factor Belux, will share insights on the 6D Model of national cultures. We’re excited to feature this compelling topic on the agenda!

Finally, before you dive into our latest OE-A news, we want to highlight the Call for Papers for the LOPEC Conference 2025. Interested in presenting your work to international experts at LOPEC? Please submit your abstract online by September 27, 2024, at lopec.com.