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26 The PCB Magazine • August 2014 f e a t u r e by Klaus Becker organIc and PrInted electronIcs assocIatIon (oe-a) Hybrid Systems for Organic & Printed Electronics The organic and printed electronics indus- try is on the upswing. That is what the first OE-A Business Climate Survey shows. One cen- tral point that helps the industry to grow and develop is hybrid systems, as identified by the latest edition of the OE-A Roadmap. Hybrid sys- tems combine classical silicon and printed elec- tronics components. That opens up new pos- sibilities for the PCB industry. Participants expect a 16% increase in sales turnover compared to the previous year. This trend is going to continue through the upcom- ing year 2015—along the entire value chain of the printed electronics industry, from material suppliers to end users, as well as in all global regions: Europe, Asia and America. The OE-A's first Business Climate Survey shows that the young industry has developed into its own sector with a bright future. Thin, lightweight and flexible are characteristics of organic and printed electronics. These features enable new applications in numerous areas, with particular focus on consumer electronics, automotive, lighting, packaging and printing, pharmaceuticals and energy. In many of these fields hybrid systems already enable market entry and new applications. Hybrid systems are one of the key trends that the fifth edition of the OE-A Roadmap has Photo courtesy Thin Film Electronics ASA