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116 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2021 offers obvious beneficial potential and a pro- spective path to securing such benefit. It is not difficult to assume that it is oen preceded and influenced by some moment of inspiration that drives evolution. With only a wee bit of prejudice, I would argue that flexible circuits are among the most adaptive and adaptable of all electronic inter- connection technologies, and perhaps the most catalytic as well. eir adaptability has long been (and increasingly) seen and tapped by product developers, including everyone from assemblers to packagers to solving pack- aging and interconnection problems and chal- lenges. Over the last quarter century, the range of applications for flexible circuits has grown at an impressive rate as the technology has been adapted to a host of new interconnection opportunities. e historical roles of flex cir- cuits—wire harness replacement, 3D intercon- nection enabler, and dynamic interconnection scheme to connect parts of an electronic assem- bly designed to move relative to one another— will not go away. Instead, we will likely see an ever-expanding array of applications. ere are a lot of reasons for this but in recent years, there has been a push by consortia to help nurture the awareness and growth of flexible circuit technology. Perhaps the most notable has been NextFlex, a public/private partnership with a stated mission to advance U.S. manufac- turing of what they refer to variously as "flexible hybrid electronics" (FHE) and printed electron- ics (PE). e terms, it appears, were created to fundamentally rebrand the time-honored sub- set of flexible circuits called polymer thick film technology, as near as can be told. What is more important is that the NextFlex effort has shone a light on flexible circuit tech- nology, writ large, as they seek to promote pub- lic/private partnerships which facilitate flex- ible circuit technology innovation and com- mercialization. An important, publicly-stated aspect of their effort has been to "accelerate manufacturing workforce development and promote a sustainable ecosystem for advanced manufacturing," which are vital to the continu- ing evolution, adaptation, and growth of the technology. Inspiration, insight, or whatever else one wishes to call it, is vital in the execution of change. Over the last couple of decades, we have been watching the blurring of lines between what were formerly sharply divided and fundamental elements of every aspect of electronic manufacturing technology, espe- cially in flexible circuit technology. e com- ponents, the substrates, and even assembly technologies are beginning to be used in a more coherent and cooperative way than ever before. One need only look at the recent advances in printed electronics to see the evidence of inspired evolution. e relative strengths of oen very different technologies, all adaptive and adaptable, are enabling the electronics product industry to continue to get ever more value from our increasingly impor- tant and indispensable electronic devices. Ironically, and perhaps fittingly, the only thing that will never change is change. FLEX007 Joe Fjelstad is founder and CEO of Verdant Electronics and an international authority and inno- vator in the field of electronic interconnection and packaging technologies with more than 185 patents issued or pending. To read past columns or contact Fjelstad, click here. Download your free copy of Fjelstad's book Flexible Circuit Technology, 4 th Edition, and watch his in-depth workshop series "Flexible Circuit Technology." One need only look at the recent advances in printed electronics to see the evidence of inspired evolution.