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JULY 2020 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 95 continue to generate talent driving an unpar- alleled rate of innovation and production. But the educational system that powered the Indus- trial Revolution is unlikely to meet the needs of Industry 5.0. Preparing a workforce for the 21 st century will require unprecedented levels of collaboration and cooperation between edu- cation and industry. Only through robust part- nerships will the U.S. pave the way to create the next generation of innovators and ensure that America remains a powerhouse of inven- tion and entrepreneurship. FLEX007 Emily McGraths is the director of workforce development at NextFlex. Industry veteran Happy Holden, "Mr. HDI," has been answering readers' questions about everything from stacked microvias to the global PCB market. Here are a few of the questions he's fielded regarding flexible circuits. Q: What are the key reliability concerns for flexible circuits moving to newer technologies, materials, and processes? A: The reliability concerns for flex are the same as for rigid circuits, with the exception of flexing. Material performance, conductor performance, external factors, usage, cleanliness, assembly, etc., are all important. Raza Ghaf- farian of the Jet Propulsion Labo- ratory wrote a great review of flex reliability in the 7 th edition of the Printed Circuit Handbook, which I co-edited with Clyde F. Coombs. Q: What do you think will be the next leading-edge tech- nology for flexible circuits? A: Disposable and wearable substrates, including paper. Q: Will flexible circuits be con- sidered an integral interconnect for 5G technology? A: Yes. Flex circuits will evolve to fulfill the needs of 5G. What may change are the "connections" as millimeter-wave devices, and IIoT can be used to connect sig- nals in 3D and at angles instead of using flex. To pose your own question for Happy Holden, take the survey. Happy Holden Answers Your Flexible Circuit Questions company leadership and involve more than quarterly advisory meetings by volunteers. Intern managers should be identified based on a proven ability to foster talent, and the corresponding coordination and mentorship responsibilities should be codified within their job descriptions. Without this level of commitment and engagement from compa- nies, work-based learning will continue to fall far short of its true potential to cultivate those characteristics that are so essential to Indus- try 4.0—entrepreneurial thinking and com- plex problem solving. U.S. leadership in the advanced manufactur- ing sector—as well as the cascade of defense, economic, and social benefits that position provides—is fundamentally enabled by our educational system. To maintain the status of a world leader, the U.S. needs to ensure schools