Canadian Printed & Flexible Electronics Symposium 2022

The internet of things and smart packaging together promise a world in which electronics are embedded within many everyday objects, offering benefits such as predictive maintenance, automatic reordering, real-time quality control, and improved matching of supply and demand. However, for such a vision to be realized without producing an unacceptable mountain of electronic waste, sustainable electronics are required.
Printed and hybrid electronics is extremely well suited to making electronics more sustainable, since the same size circuit uses far less material than a conventional PCB. Furthermore, there are many other strategies by which printed electronics can be made more sustainable. These include using biodegradable and/or bio-based substrates, using alternative conductive inks to silver, and printed batteries without and heavy metals. Other related approaches include integrating RFID tags to assist with recycling, and simplifying the product life cycle to reduce the overall environmental impact.
This presentation will cover the motivation for making sustainable printed electronics, examples of strategies being used, and a roadmap for their adoption. Remaining challenges around sustainable printed electronics, and associated innovation opportunities, will also be discussed.

Dr Matthew Dyson is a Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, based in London UK. He has an MRes and PhD in Physics from Imperial College London, in which he investigated the optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors. This was followed by post-doctoral research at Eindhoven Technical University in the Netherlands focused primarily on organic photodetectors. At IDTechEx Matthew utilizes this technical background to cover both emerging image sensor technologies and printed/flexible electronics.

A look at the primary and secondary market research that informed Jones Healthcare Group’s sustainability strategy development, and the current opportunities and challenges that JHG faces as a packaging solutions provider responding to increasing demand from the pharmaceutical industry for sustainability.

As Senior Manager, Corporate Sustainability at Jones Healthcare Group, Andrew Wong is currently leading programs for sustainable development in the areas of environment and society, with a focus on best meeting stakeholder needs and enhancing the long term economic resiliency of the organization.

In November 2016, Ontario passed the Waste Free Ontario Act, 2016 (WFOA) and launched the province’s Circular Economy initiative by outlining a new regulatory framework for resource recovery and establishing the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) as the regulator responsible for enforcing Ontario’s circular economy laws. Starting January 1, 2021, producers of information technology and audio-visual equipment became individually accountable and financially responsible for collecting and reusing, refurbishing or recycling their products when consumers discard them. This presentation will outline both the broad context of Ontario’s Circular Economy initiative, the extended producer responsibility requirements for electronics, and the role of RPRA in enforcing the new regulatory requirements.

Mary Cummins has over 15 years of experience in delivering regulatory programs, stakeholder relations and policy/program development in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Her extensive experience in designing and delivering regulatory programs and managing stakeholder relations with RPRA, Waste Diversion Ontario and Stewardship Ontario, ensures RPRA’s compliance program and Registry system continue to operate effectively and efficiently to fulfill the government’s vision of a circular economy in Ontario. As the Registrar, Mary leads RPRA’s Registry support, compliance, and enforcement function, including overseeing inspections, prosecutions, compliance orders, administrative penalties, offence provisions and the Registry system used to receive and store information related to resource recovery and waste reduction activities.

It is said that Cascades was born out of a form of sustainability. In the mid-1960s, long before the term was coined, Cascades decided to make the circular economy its business model by using old paper and cardboard, which were destined for landfills, as raw material for its hygiene and packaging products. Over the decades, the company has built an enviable reputation and has been named one of the 100 most responsible companies in the world by Corporate Knights.
Cascades has over 80 business units in North America, including 17 recovery centers and over 20 paper mills, making it an important stakeholder in both recovery and recycling. In recent years, packaging has evolved and become more complex, to meet both technical and marketing requirements. New components are being added or materials are being blended, bringing with it a host of challenges for the recyclability industry. The same issues are present for smart packaging. Therefore, it is important for the various players to work together to understand their respective realities. In this presentation, Cascades will explain the different criteria to consider in the design and end-of-life of packaging solutions to have eco-designed solutions. Recyclability is not a regulated term, but there are nevertheless several tests to know if your packaging is really recyclable (or not) and to protect you from misleading statements.

Marie-Eve Chapdelaine, Senior Sustainability Advisor at Cascade, has a decade of experience in the field of corporate sustainability. She has to her credit the strategic planning of three sustainability plans at Cascades, the positioning of the organization as one of the most responsible companies in the world, in addition to building the department that works to ensure that the company maintains its leadership position in this area.
She earned her first university degree in public communications at Université Laval. She continued her studies with a Master’s degree in Environment at the University of Sherbrooke. It is the combination of her knowledge and significant encounters that led her to turn to the world of sustainability, a subject that she teaches at the University of Sherbrooke. Recognized for her commitment and knowledge of waste management, she shares her knowledge on various blogs and acts as one of the ambassadors for the organization Mission 1000 tonnes, which is dedicated to removing waste from waterways and oceans.

Our world is rapidly adopting an information system known as the Internet of Things (IoT), in which smart devices and sensors embedded ubiquitously collect and exchange data. The IoT is estimated to consist of ~50B smart objects in 2020. Many of these devices will be simple, low-cost sensors deployed everywhere, monitoring food supplies, environmental conditions of air and water, the status of packaged goods, and human health. The resulting data will be used to improve human health and safety, as well as provide commercial benefits by preventing product loss. To make this vision a reality, the field of printable electronics (PE) is rapidly developing due to intense research efforts both in Canada and worldwide. PE combines conventional printing methods (gravure, flexography, screen printing, roll-to-roll) with conducting, dielectric, and semiconducting inks to produce electronic devices economically in a high throughput fashion. This unique synergy at the intersection between the printing and the electronics industries allows for the manufacturing of low-cost electronic devices that are light and flexible. The high throughput and low-cost manufacturing capabilities of PE are ideally suited to the mass production of devices needed for the IoT; however, the potential scale of this mass production also presents an environmental challenge that must be addressed for PE manufacturing to be a viable approach. There is an urgent need to reinvent the current methods of PE to incorporate green materials and processes to minimize the environmental impact.
In 2018, the NSERC Green Electronics Network was formed, consisting of world-class researchers in chemistry, physics, and engineering, from across Canada with a vision to address these key issues by exploiting the internationally recognized strengths of Canada in materials science and organic electronics to fabricate environmentally-friendly printed electronic sensors intended for smart packaging applications. This presentation will include a discussion of the vision and goals of this unprecedented network of researchers, along with recent advances from the network in the preparation and characterization of environmentally benign carbon-based conductors, dielectrics, and semiconductors using sustainable processes, their formulation into inks using environmentally-friendly solvents, and the printing and fabrication of electronic devices and circuits on various biodegradable or recyclable substrates.

Dr. Chloé Bois holds the Industrial Research Chair in NSERC Colleges in Print Manufacturing at Collège Ahuntsic. She is the general manager of the Graphic Communications and Printability institute (ICI) since 2020 after having served as R&D director since 2016. ICI is a collegial center for technology transfer and a center for access to technology that supports excellence in college education and innovation in companies in the graphic communications and printed electronics sectors through research, education, and the organization of dissemination events knowledge. As a Research Chair, Bois uses her specialization in printing processes, printed electronics and industrialization of new products printed mainly on rotating equipment for mass production. She supports a multidisciplinary team in the work of transferring academic results to industry by developing methods for scaling up from product prototyping to production prototyping applied to ink formulations, printable structures, additive manufacturing processes. advanced. Thanks to her associative commitments for the scientific and technical community both in Canada and internationally such as OE-A Vice-Chair North America, Tech Access Canada board member, and conferences organization committees, she helps promoting industrial innovation and college and university education. She is dedicated to strengthening the recognition of multiple human potentials by being involved in activities promoting diversity, equality and the inclusion of minorities and racialized communities in STEM and leadership positions.

Printed electronic devices, both flexible and rigid, represent a significant and growing potential. IDTechEx estimates that the materials market for printed electronics will reach $6.9 billion in 2031. Specialization is required at many stages of the process. Matchmaking and new partnerships can be significant success factors. Strong commercial potential between Canadian and international organizations provides opportunities for mutually rewarding relationships. AFELIM and intelliFLEX have partnered to provide that environment for their respective members.
In this presentation, AFELIM is highlighted. As the French printed electronics association, it represents the companies that do business in printed electronics in France. AFELIM includes every profession in the value chain and is the counterpart to intelliFLEX.

Currently the Business Manager, Amico 2030, Mickael Rougette started along his path by studying international business development and market access in France. Mickael’s long, strong connection with both AFELIM and intelliFLEX stems from working in France for five years in the supply of polymer treatments for the European automotive industry. During that time, he became an active member of AFELIM, assisting in local workshops right through to international events. Mickael moved to Canada, working with several organizations, including intelliFLEX from 2016 to 2021. He then joined Amico Infrastructures, a leading integrated land development and construction company in Ontario, in 2021 as their 2030 Business Manager. Amico’s 2030 initiatives include: convergence of digital and physical infrastructure; construction safety and production by using AI, drone technology and 3D scanning/printing; dynamic roadways; smart energy and water management systems. His interests in Printed Electronics continue to flourish.

For more than 120 years, the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) of Global Affairs Canada has been helping companies navigate international markets. The TCS has more than 1,000 Trade Commissioners in over 160 cities across Canada and the world. The TCS helps Canadian companies navigate the complexities of the global market by connecting them to funding and support programs, international opportunities and our unparalleled network of Trade Commissioners. This presentation will help companies tap into the expertise and funding offered, understand the TCS advantage, and make exporting easier.

Vanessa Pukal has been Trade Commissioner at the Ontario Regional Office of the TCS since 2020. She helps Ontario companies in the ICT sector grow globally and is based in Toronto. Prior to joining Global Affairs Canada she worked for a number of government agencies and the Bank of Montreal. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Glendon College, York University and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from Carleton University.

Canada’s 60 Technology Access Centres (TACs) are specialized applied research & development centres affiliated with publicly funded colleges or cégeps. Each TAC serves a specific geographic area, focusing on strengthening the industrial sector of significance to that region. Uniquely Canadian, and a source of pride in their communities, TACs help Canadian businesses – especially small businesses – advance their products, processes, and services by: conducting applied research and development projects focused on company problems; offering specialized technical services and objective advice; and providing training related to new types of equipment and processes. This presentation will provide an overview of Tech-Access Canada’s Interactive Visits program which provides eligible SMEs with 20-hour R&D collaborations at any of the 60 TACs.

Since 2016, Ken Doyle has served as the Executive Director of Tech-Access Canada, the national network of Canada’s Technology Access Centres (TACs). Ken’s knowledge and experience combined with his management skills and positive attitude make him a strong leader for the TAC network. Ken is responsible for ensuring the network achieves its mandate of facilitating the sharing of best practices between member TACs, and promoting the adoption of comparable service excellence standards. Ken actively promotes the Technology Access Centre model to external audiences including industry associations, federal and provincial governments, and any other innovators and entrepreneurs he’s able to connect with.

Demand in lightweight, conformal electronics has surpassed current manufacturing capabilities, which are predicated on equilibrium-based thermal processes such as reflow soldering. The presenter will offer next-generation thermal processing, enabling applications such as soldering SAC305 onto lightweight PET. This new thermal processing decarbonizes the supply chain by utilizing as little as 15% of the energy of standard processing, can be set up in minutes, and is a fraction of the footprint of current equipment.

Stan Farnsworth, Chief Marketing Officer, Stan.farnsworth@pulseforge.com
Stan has been bringing deep-tech innovation to markets and applications for over 20 years. He is the Chief Marketing Officer for the newly-created PulseForge Inc, spun out of NovaCentrix where he also held the title of Chief Marketing Officer as well as being a founding member in 2008. Prior, he was also a founding member of Nanotechnologies Inc (1999), an early pioneer and recognized leader in the nanomaterial space.
He has worked for over a decade with the OE-A, the leading international association for printed and large-area flexible electronics, where he serves as elected Chairman. He was recently named to the invitation-only Forbes Executive Communications Council. He is also an active Mentor at Capital Factory, the leading start-up ecosystem in the Austin area, where he advises entrepreneurs on marketing and sales topics.
For the past 10 years Stan has also been the chair of the STEM advisory board for a local Austin area high school. In this capacity, he has been working to increase diversity in STEM education and improve awareness of technology opportunities for all students.
Stan earned his BS in mechanical engineering from Rice University and MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas, Austin, specializing in heat transfer and fluid mechanics.

Printed electronic devices, both flexible and rigid, have garnered significant interest and adoption across multiple market segments, including aerospace, medical, IoT, automotive, energy and consumer electronics. The technology is highly adaptable and compatible with low cost, automated mass production processes, thereby attracting both industrial and academic applications.
To maximally exploit the opportunities of this technology, the MiQro Innovation Collaborative Center (C2MI) in collaboration with École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) has developed a hybrid printing solution using copper (Cu) inks that addresses both circuit density optimization and the integration of solderable, surface mount components. The hybrid approach leverages the respective strengths of two industrially pervasive printing processes, namely inkjet and screen-printing, on the same device. The inkjet technique enables fine lines and spacing of conductive traces with minimal ink consumption. Further, the technique does not rely on design-specific hard tooling, such as masks, thus allowing immediate correction or fine-tuning of device designs. On the other hand, the strength of screen-printing lies in its capability to cost-effectively print the thicker deposits necessary for reliable component connections. The use of a Cu ink renders these deposits compatible with the industry standard SAC305 solder used in high volume PCB surface mount assembly.
In this presentation, we first review key market trends and technology needs, then discuss the challenges specific to both the hybrid approach and the use of Cu ink materials. This includes ink compatibility, curing parameters and height control. Approaches taken by C2MI to address these challenges using its industry-compatible processes and equipment are then reviewed.

Christophe Sansregret is working at the Micro Innovation Collaboration Center (C2Mi) in process development in Printed electronics and advanced packaging. He focuses on flexible and printed electronics production through additive manufacturing. He is currently developing processes for the integration of surface mounted electronic components on flexible substrates using copper inks in collaboration mainly with the École des Technologies Supérieurs (ÉTS).

The resolution of printed electronics technology improves constantly, in some cases even encroaching into the territory of lithography. What is achieved today was hardly imaginable last decade. In this talk, we will review the state-of-the-art in various fineline printing approaches. In doing so, we will cover techniques as diverse as screen printing, hybrid printing, flexo and gravure printing, LIFT (laser induced forward transfer), transfer, nanoimprint, etc. We will show how printed techniques today can cover the entire spectrum from nano-sized to micro-sized scale on substrates as diverse as silicon and PET using both continuous/analogue as well as digital techniques.

Dr. Khasha Ghaffarzadeh is the CEO of TechBlick. He has spent more than a decade leading global analysts teams focused on emerging technologies. He has developed market-leading industry reports and supported numerous clients in Asia, Europe, and North America. Prior to founding TechBlick, Khasha was the Research Director at IDTechEx.
He completed his masters and PhD at the University of Cambridge and UCL, respectively, where he worked with Samsung to produce and characterize state-of-the-art TFTs. He is regularly cited in leading journals and his academic publications are cited over 1000 times. He is passionate about emerging technologies.

Increased specialization adds to the challenges and opportunities of todays world as the introduction of exceptional concepts requires a plethora of skills, knowledge, and tools. This can prevent many worthwhile ideas from coming to market, even when funding is available. This presentation will deal with the specific steps needed to get to the stage of being able to successfully ship solutions. The focus will be from a technical perspective. Cost-effective system, hardware, software, and mechanical design incorporating DFX principals and full certification will be addressed.

Titu Botos is the CEO at NeuronicWorks, having previously served as the Vice President of Engineering and senior system and hardware design engineer. With over 20 years of experience in analysis, design, testing and debugging both analog and digital systems, Titu is hailed as the driving force to the company’s engineering department. His experience includes a variety of electronic fields, from industrial environments to space applications, from instrumentation to control, from ultra-low power (uW) to high-power (KW) systems. He displays a depth of knowledge across multiple technical areas including current knowledge of existing and emerging technologies that permit him to guide the organizations’ efforts in serving customers. Titu’s specialization in hardware, firmware and software integration and strong background in engineering research and training allow him to understand customer’s requirements and ensure the appropriate support is brought to bear. He holds a Ph.D. in Mobile Robots Guidance, a Masters of Science in Instrumentation of Electronic Measurements field and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering.

The industrialization of printed electronics (PE) using continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing techniques involves several technological challenges. To facilitate the key decision-making and accelerate the scale up of the first viable product, ICI is implementing an industrialization strategy based on focusing initial efforts on the most critical PE application factor. This presentation will demonstrate the application of this strategy to industrial production of smart time-temperature monitoring labels for cold chain traceability using R2R continuous production methods.

Dr. Ngoc Duc Trinh was awarded a Ph.D. in chemistry from University of Québec in Montréal in 2015. Afterwards, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montréal. His graduate and postdoctoral studies focused on the development of high-performance electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In September 2017, he joined the Printability and Graphic Communications Institute (ICI) as a project manager. In August 2021 he became ICI’s Director for R&D. His expertise is applied in the manufacturing by roll-to-roll printing processes of fully printed batteries and printed electronics adapted to smart packaging. These devices make it possible to continuously provide additional information on the conditions of packaging throughout the supply chain to consumers. Within the multidisciplinary R&D team, he contributes to the industrialization of printed or hybrid flexible electronics using roll-to-roll printing processes, taking part in the technology transfer to industrial partners.

Human machine interface (HMI) space is constantly evolving to meet consumer expectations for functionality and unique design. Screen printing and polymer thick film materials have been used for HMI for many years, mainly in touch switch and touch panel applications. Today, with HMI designs moving towards higher levels of functionality, reliability and aesthetics, there is a great opportunity for manufacturers to expand the use of printed electronics and take advantage of additive processing for lower cost of manufacture and improved environmental impact. In addition, printed electronics can deliver new form factors and design features not readily possible or too expensive with more traditional PCB or FPC designs. This presentation will discuss the trends in HMI and developments in materials solutions to advance the presence of printed electronics in HMI applications.

John Hannafin is currently Global Product and Business Development Manager at Sun Chemical. Formerly CEO of NanoMas Technology, a high performance nanosilver particle and ink producer, he joined Sun upon his sale of NanoMas to Sun in 2013. John has over 25 years of experience in materials and solutions for the printed electronics, electronic assembly and semiconductor packaging industries. He has a BS in Electronic Engineering from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.

Owing to their simple print-head architecture, thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers are a lower-cost option for printing than piezoelectric inkjet printing and print at a faster speed with a high-quality finish. They can print on a wide variety of surfaces, including regular and specialty papers, plastics, metals and cartons. Most of these printers are simple to use and require very minimal training or practice. However, many challenges still exist in developing reliable conductive inks for TIJ. For instance, the inks for this purpose must avoid sintering and fouling at the printhead’s thermal ejection point. Building on years of ink design and nanoparticle incorporation experience, NovaCentrix has developed a portfolio of conductive inks that are compatible with thermal inkjet printheads. This innovative step in printed conductive materials will enable the design of printed electronics to a wider audience. Using readily available and affordable thermal inkjet printheads, at-home crafters, STEM educators, and product packaging businesses can realize their printed electronics designs on a wide range of low-temperature and flexible substrates.

Joining NovaCentrix in 2008, Dr. Dave Pope leads the inks development group as Vice President of R&D and Manufacturing. He works with the applications and sales teams to provide customers with solutions for their printing projects. Dave holds 6 US patents in a variety of fields and has worked for a number of companies – including Schlumberger, Cabot Corp, and Sasol. He received his BS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are renewable nanomaterials obtained by strong acid hydrolysis of biomass. CNC surface charge and properties can be manipulated and controlled during the hydrolysis process, whereby a tunable measure of surface charge and active moieties can be engineered. The electric dipole moment of CNCs has been measured using transient electric birefringence, with a reported 4400 ± 400 D magnitude permanent dipole along the CNC long axis. Many natural materials, including wood, show piezoelectric properties by virtue of the non-centrosymmetric orientation of their molecular components. However, we will show how CNCs – unlike other natural materials – have unique, tunable, and long-lasting piezoelectric response, alone or in combination with other polymeric materials.
It was discovered that the piezoelectric response of CNC films strongly depended on the surface properties of CNCs and the ionic strength of the CNC dispersion. An increase in |d33| from 0.4 to 5.5 pC N-1 was observed by converting CNCs from Na-form to H-form, and this value was further improved to 82.6 pC N-1 by controlling the ionic strength of the CNC suspensions before evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). This d33 value was higher than that typically observed for PVDF, the most widely used piezoelectric polymer material, as well as PZT-polymer composites, and some piezoelectric ceramics, e.g., BiFeO3.
The presentation will detail the mechanisms responsible for these unique responses governed by controllably manipulating CNC surface characteristics, and how this knowledge can be applied to develop sustainable, cost-effective organic electronic materials for a variety of end-use engineering and biomedical applications.

Wadood Y. Hamad has expertise in materials science and nanotechnology and is currently Research Manager of the Transformation and Interfaces Group within the Bioproducts Innovation Centre of Excellence at FPInnovations. Also Adjunct Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia since 2012, Dr Hamad has sought to provide a vision for advancing high-level R&D. His focus is on eco-sustainable design and the application of an inter-disciplinary scientific approach spanning the fields of materials science, physics, chemistry, and biology to develop useful bio-inspired materials and structures for engineering and medical applications. A pioneer in the research and development of renewable, nontoxic nanomaterials, particularly his ground-breaking research on the structure-property-process interrelations of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) processing. Dr Hamad was granted the Distinguished Nanoscientist Award and FiberLean Industries Prize by the Nanotechnology Division of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, TAPPI (USA) in June 2018. Wadood was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and the Institute of Materials, Mining and Metallurgy (UK) in 2017. He is the recipient of other honours and awards, notably the Tech21 visiting professorship at Université Grenoble Alpes, France in 2018.
His work has led to over 27 families of patented applications and over 130 peer-reviewed book chapters, scientific papers, and authoritative reviews, as well as several monographs.

A key element to adopting additive manufacturing and realizing its associated benefits is the availability of reliable, high performance functional materials. This presentation will highlight the progress the NRC has made in developing materials compatible with printable electronics and 3D printing.
The development of a silver molecular ink by the NRC has led to advances in fine line printing and in-mold electronics that are enabling seamless integration of circuits needed for the next generation of human-to-machine interfaces. Building from concepts used in printable electronics, NRC’s silver molecular inks were recently used as the basis in unique photoresins used to 3D print objects with conductive finishes and complex shapes. These examples will be used to demonstrate the opportunities for advanced materials for additive manufacturing.

Chantal Paquet joined the NRC in 2007 at the Security and Disruptive Technology Research Center (formerly the Steacie Institute). In 2019, she became group leader of the Additive Materials group. Her research interest span areas of material chemistry, including magnetic particles for medical applications, molecular conductive inks for printable electronics and photoresins for 3D printing. She has published over 35 research publications and 12 patents. As a group leader, she is managing R&D projects performed in collaboration with industry and OGD partners in the area of materials for additive manufacturing. Chantal Paquet received her B.Sc. (Chemistry) from the University of Guelph and a PhD in Chemistry with a specialization in polymers and materials from the University of Toronto in 2006.

Printed electronics represent a paradigm shift in the way we manufacture electronics, offering possibilities for more sustainable large-scale manufacturing in addition to new functionalities. Organic Semiconductors, which can be formulated as inks and then printed into various devices are poised to unlock even more potential applications in printed electronics. For large volume production runs of printed organic electronics technologies, it is expected that organic semiconductors will be manufactured on the kilogram to ton- scale. Thus, it is important that the large-scale synthesis of these materials is not only repeatable but also done in an environmentally responsible manner. This presentation will outline how Brilliant Matters Organic Electronics is contributing to the growing field of printed electronics by offering a scaleup platform for organic semiconductor materials for the printed electronics industry.

Dr. Arthur D Hendsbee is an organic materials scientist who graduated from the University of Calgary with a PhD in Chemistry in 2017, obtained under the supervision of Dr. Greg Welch. During his time at the University of Calgary, he developed a new class of non-fullerene acceptors with utility in optoelectronic devices and was awarded a United States Patent (9865819) for this work. Following his PhD, in 2019 Arthur completed an NSERC funded postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Yuning Li at the University of Waterloo where he studied organic optoelectronic device fabrication techniques. In September of 2019, Arthur was impressed by the vision of Brilliant Matters to provide industry with a reliable and scalable source of organic optoelectronic materials and joined as a Senior Scientist. Near the end of the 2020 year, he transitioned to his current role as Business Development Manager at Brilliant Matters.

Cybersecurity is of vital importance for all stakeholders in the Canadian economy. The security and integrity of our networks and our data is of special urgency as we digitize all aspects of our work and personal lives. The Internet of Things and “smart” living environments, while bringing important benefits, significantly expand the cyber “attack surface”, creating new vulnerabilities. In this session, I will give a general overview of the major cybersecurity threat vectors, discuss how cybersecurity risks are changing due to the proliferation of IoT devices and “smart” applications, and consider how Canadians and Canadian organizations can prioritize cybersecurity, particularly as new technologies emerge at a rapid pace.

Charles Finlay founded the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst in 2018 with a vision to build Canada’s leading hub for cybersecurity innovation and collaboration. As founding Executive Director, Charles oversees all aspects of the Catalyst’s program delivery and strategic growth. Charles has been instrumental in developing nationally unique programming in cybersecurity training, commercialization, public education and policy development.
Prior to founding the Catalyst, Charles served as chief of staff and director of policy to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth. In this role, Charles worked closely with private sector and government leaders to develop and implement the province’s strategy to make Ontario a global leader in technology innovation and commercialization.
Before joining government, Charles practiced law at BMO Capital Markets and Torys LLP, worked as a technology researcher at Forrester Research, and was a freelance business journalist for The Globe and Mail and Canadian Business Magazine.

In an increasingly connected world, sensors play a major role in digitizing our environment to improve our processes. Digital intelligence driven by AI requires more and more data from connected and interconnected sensors. Kynze is a company recognized for choosing and integrating the best sensor technologies to develop connected products. Among other sensor technologies, Kynze specializes in integrating radar sensors to see our environment. Kynze simplifies the use of radar technology for large-scale adoption.
This presentation will describe how radar technology, combined with other sensors, is changing the way we measure and see our environment.

Dr. Florent Lefèvre has more than 15 years of experience in IoT, sensor integration, and product development for various industries: industrial water treatment, biomedical, and agro-food. In 2020, he founded Kynze, where he collaborates with companies and startups to develop and integrate various sensor technologies. Kynze helps companies optimize their processes and product performance through the integration of new sensor technology.
With a doctorate in printed electronics, Florent has helped several companies industrialize printed and flexible sensors in North America.

During our presentation we will present the STM32Trust security framework as well as the STM32U5 microcontroller which includes a unique set of peripherals and security IP to secure IoT sensor nodes. The STM32Trust combines security knowledge, software/hardware ecosystem and security services offering a complete toolset for code and execution protection. It ensures IP protection, data security, and validated credentials are used, and it helps to guarantee firmware authenticity and secure firmware updates for sensor nodes.

Colin Ramrattan has been with ST Microelectronics since 2012 and is a Product Marketing Engineer with the microcontroller product marketing team for the Americas. Colin held positions in both the analog sensors and connectivity organization prior to microcontrollers. Before joining ST Microelectronics, Colin was a user interface module designer at Blackberry in Waterloo, Canada.

Printed E-paper is low power, thin, reflective, flexible, and inexpensive. Ideal applications specific to the value proposition are to be found in:
– Digital Signage
– Retail
– Authenticity & Security
– Smart Packaging – Monitoring Labels
The presentation will show markets being supplied and some emerging market applications.

Offering over 25 years of experience in Displays and Human Machine Interfaces, Keith Morton has worked for startups and fortune 500 companies in design, distribution, and marketing,
He has been focused on advancing display technology and holds patents in Display Integration and Implementation. Keith is also the founder and CTO of Display Logic, a Display Technology innovation company which he founded in 2007 and has run successfully since then. Keith joined Ynvisible first as an advisor in 2021 and then soon after as VP of sales, marketing, and product development. “I feel my years of experience in display integration will be a great help in implementing Ynvisible’s cutting edge technology.

Providing brands a cost effective, sustainable communication platform to interact with shoppers and consumers while delivering performance metrics on physical assets like never before.

Christina Cvetan has over 20 years experience in packaging innovation as a former global packaging capability specialist for one of the world’s largest Consumer Package Goods companies. She has applied her expertise to develop strategic partnerships and technology innovation capability that can be applied globally across categories and customer channels. In 2018, Christina co-founded Ahead of the Curve Group, a business focused on innovative and progressive packaging solutions that Drive Performance in a Connected World.

Demographic changes are creating enormous challenges for our healthcare system. For example, within twenty years, the population of Canadians aged 65+ will grow by 68%. In addition, nearly 75% of seniors have multiple chronic conditions, which increases healthcare utilization threefold, increases hospital admission and readmission, and the need for long-term care. However, what if, instead of expanding our hospitals and long-term care facilities, we empowered seniors to “age in place”? What if we functionalized clothing—technology so inconspicuous that it disappears into one’s daily routine—for seniors and others living with chronic conditions to provide continuous, timely and uninterrupted monitoring and care at home? What if shirts could wake people before their hearts stopped beating in their sleep? What if leggings could prevent people from falling and breaking their hips?
The FabrIc-Based REsearch (FIBRE) Platform is a major research initiative in Greater Toronto Area which aims to bring a revolutionary healthcare platform using textile-based wearables to deliver care wherever users may be—at home, at work, in a shelter or in a Northern community. FIBRE will use smart clothing that unobtrusively monitors biological signals 24/7 and delivers life-saving interventions to protect people who have or will develop complex health conditions. The key academic partners in this effort are Centennial College, George Brown College, Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD University), Ryerson University, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, The Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (Humber College), the University of Toronto, and the University Health Network. This lecture will present FIBRE and its partners.

Dr. Milos R. Popovic, Dipl. El. Eng., Ph.D., FCAE, FAIMBE, P.Eng.
Milos R. Popovic is the Director of The KITE Research Institute at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network, and a Professor (Tenured) in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Dr. Popovic is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. He is the co-founder and director of (i) MyndTec; (ii) the Centre for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA) at the University Health Network and the University of Toronto; (iii) the CRANIA Neuromodulation Institute at the University of Toronto; and (iv) the Canadian Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Popovic is also the founder of FabrIc-Based REsearch (FIBRE) Platform and the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, both located at the KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network. Dr. Popovic held the Toronto Rehab Chair in Spinal Cord Injury Research appointment from 2007 until 2017.
Dr. Popovic received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto, Canada in 1996, and the Dipl. Electrical Engineer degree from the University of Belgrade, Serbia in 1990. His fields of expertise are functional electrical stimulation, neuroprostheses, neuro-rehabilitation, neuromodulation, brain machine interfaces, physiological control systems, assistive technology, modelling and control of linear and non-linear dynamic systems, robotics, and signal processing.
National and international prizes and awards for Research and Development, Intellectual Property, Engineering, Inventions, Entrepreneurship and contributions in Assistive Technologies recognize his competences and achievements.

Flextrapower’s story and vision to sense the invisible and enable people to live healthier lives will be shared. From PhD research, to IP licensing, finding the product market fit and international growth during the COVID-era. As the team expands its reach to Vancouver, Canada, the presentation will also cover recent collaborative partnerships in the field of smart textile for preventative healthcare with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology in Vietnam, the Alfred University in New York and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver through MITACS, with support from Canada’s Trade Commissioners.

Dr. Linh Le has over 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship in deep tech start-ups. Linh currently is the founder of Flextrapower, the award-winning start-up with its mission to enable humans to live a healthier life. Completing his PhD (ABD) in material science at Stevens Institute of Technology, Linh worked with a team of investigators to publish multiple papers and conference proceedings. He currently holds eight patents worldwide and is an active investor, mentor and advisor to start-ups in the field. Prior to that, he received his MS in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University and BS in Chemistry from the Vietnam National University.
Community services and development have always been Linh’s core passion. He is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of British Columbia, promoting entrepreneurship within the university. Linh is serving on multiple boards, including the NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN) of Canada and the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. foundation, a B.C.-based agency that assists immigrants in Canada.

Considering the megatrend of connectivity, the presentation will focus on Health Patch, Digital Healthcare and Smart Personal Hygiene. There will be a review of wound management, cardiovascular health monitoring as well as point of care devices.
The presentation looks at real-life application examples of Henkel’s ink materials usage, from moisture sensing to medical printed heater applications
Henkel’s comprehensive offering will be highlighted…

Thomas Sicilian supports Henkel’s Printed Electronics group as a Business Development Manager. He began his 11 years with the company as a Senior Application Engineer in Henkel’s Automotive and Electronics divisions, supporting metal pretreatment, underfills, encapsulants, and printed electronics materials. Since leaving the engineering group, he has held multiple sales roles in Henkel’s Electronics Materials division. Tom earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University. Originally from Michigan, he resides in Long Beach, CA, with his partner Courtney and their two dogs. Tom is an outdoor enthusiast who spends his free time rock climbing, trail running, and gardening.

Myant Inc., a Textile Computing company based in Toronto, is enabling a consolidation of data, through textile and other sources, with the goal of connecting humans to technology continuously, when needed. The focus, as expected, is on Healthcare. “Human Participation in a Digital World” will explain how Myant is addressing the gaps currently found in that participation.

Ilaria Varoli is the Executive Vice President of Myant Inc., where she leads company Operations and is instrumental in the strategic development of the Textile Computing™ company. Varoli is a proven and dedicated leader with a long history of professional management, restructuring and strategic development. She has spent over 20 years in executive roles in the retail sector, and the last 15 in the Technology and Textile sectors. Varoli has been featured in numerous national media outlets and continues to be a crucial component of the growth of Myant Inc.