FlexTech Alliance Becomes First SEMI Strategic Partner

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SEMI announced today that FlexTech Alliance has become the first SEMI Strategic (Association) Partner, a form of inter-industry cooperation. In this partnership, FlexTech will continue to pursue its mission of fostering the growth of the emerging flexible, hybrid and printed electronics industry as part of SEMI, the global industry association advancing the interests of the worldwide electronics supply chain.

SEMI is strengthening its position in the flexible, hybrid and printed electronics sector by more directly engaging with a new set of companies and R&D organizations, and leveraging an experienced team dedicated to this emerging industry. FlexTech’s activities — R&D programs, the annual Flex Conference, and industry-building workshops and webinars in the flexible electronics market — will gain improved reach through SEMI’s global platforms.

“SEMI identified several technology areas of high interest to our members and flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) was at the top of the list,” said Denny McGuirk, CEO and president of SEMI. “FHE is an exciting technology, combining aspects of traditional IC manufacturing with printed electronics. FlexTech is at the epicenter of this rapidly growing electronics field and has built a vital and collaborative community. SEMI and FlexTech members will gain both wider and deeper visibility to opportunities in the new markets created by FHE, like wearable electronics and applications for the IoT.”

“Our new partnership with SEMI provides FlexTech members with access to more resources, the expertise of a complementary industry, and worldwide platforms,” notes Michael Ciesinski, president and CEO of FlexTech Alliance. “FlexTech is now better positioned to maintain our R&D programs, broaden our contributions to industry technical forums including standards-setting, and enhance our industry-building business programs.”

Companies, public and private R&D organizations, and universities will benefit from new engagement platforms which will be led by SEMI and FlexTech. In the U.S., FHE will continue to be an integral part of SEMICON West. In conjunction with SEMICON Europa, SEMI annually sponsors the Plastic Electronics Conference with FlexTech as a contributing partner. In Korea, SEMI will build upon the success of its first printed electronics conference. As a SEMI Strategic Partner, FlexTech programs will augment SEMI’s, creating additional avenues for collaboration.

“Flexible and printed electronics, the core of FlexTech’s mission, are quickly becoming an important sector of the international electronics market,” comments Jennifer Ernst, chair of the FlexTech Governing Board and chief strategy officer at Thin Film Electronics (OSE:THIN.OL). “This is a natural step in FlexTech’s growth, and the Governing Board is excited about the international reach the SEMI partnership provides.”

“As a member of both organizations, I believe that this is a logical combination and an excellent move for the industry,” states Om Nalamasu, PhD, senior VP and chief technology officer at Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT). “The strengths of these two organizations are fully complementary and with their synergies, the whole is clearly greater than the sum of the parts.”

FlexTech retains management of the newly announced Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute (FHE MII), the Nano-Bio Manufacturing Consortium (NBMC), and the Laser Illuminated Projector Association (LIPA). Additionally, it will seek new consortium opportunities to serve the electronics industry under the SEMI umbrella. As a SEMI Strategic Partner, FlexTech Alliance will continue to operate under its own name and administer its R&D programs with U.S. government agencies.

About SEMI

SEMI is the global industry association advancing the interests of the worldwide electronics supply chain. Our 1,900 member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.  For more information, visit www.semi.org.

About FlexTech Alliance

FlexTech Alliance is a leading industry association focused on growth, profitability, and success throughout the manufacturing and distribution chain of flexible, hybrid electronics. By facilitating collaboration between and among industry, government, and academia, FlexTech Alliance develops solutions for advancing these technologies from R&D to commercialization. For more information, visit www.flextech.org.