NextFlex Launches $4.4M Hybrid Electronics Funding Opportunity
March 22, 2023 | Business WireEstimated reading time: 1 minute
NextFlex, America’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Manufacturing Institute, released Project Call 8.0 (PC 8.0), the latest call for proposals that seek to fund projects that further the development and adoption of FHE while addressing key challenges in advanced manufacturing that support Department of Defense priorities. The total PC 8.0 project value is expected to exceed $9.4M (project value/investment figures include cost-sharing), bringing the total anticipated investment in advancing FHE since NextFlex’s formation to $134M.
Building from the success and maturity of past Project Calls, PC 8.0 continues the use of broadly defined topics to enable a diverse proposer base, with special emphasis on areas in which FHE can impact high priority U.S. manufacturing opportunities and areas of emerging importance within the FHE community. Areas of emphasis include FHE-enabled manufacturing for applications in additive packaging, high performance interconnects, applications in harsh environments including space, and reducing environmental and climate impacts of electronics manufacturing with FHE approaches.
"This new funding opportunity carries the momentum from previous project calls to elevate the level of sophistication of FHE-enabled devices, extend hybrid electronic manufacturing process capability, and enhance environmental sustainability," said Scott Miller, NextFlex Director of Technology. "As FHE technology’s potential has been more fully demonstrated, we are now able to focus on meeting the reliability, standardization, and advancing technology transition into the U.S. industrial manufacturing base."
All project proposals for PC 8.0 should include elements to advance technology transitions while maintaining focusing on manufacturing challenges in these topic areas:
- Additively Manufactured 3D Devices with Increased Complexity
- High Performance FHE Interconnects
- Harsh Environment Hybrid Electronic Components with Proven Reliability
- Advancing the Manufacturability of FHE Processes Towards Standardization
- Environmentally Sustainable FHE Manufacturing, Design Strategies, and Use-Cases
- Open Topic for "New Project Leads"
In addition, NextFlex announces the release of its latest FHE Technology Roadmaps. Developed by subject matter experts from industry, academia and government, the NextFlex Technical Working Groups in 11 technical areas of emphasis – Automotive; Device Integration & Packaging; Materials; Modeling & Design; Printed Components & Microfluidics; Standards, Test & Reliability; Asset Monitoring Systems; Flexible Power; Human Monitoring Systems; Integrated Antenna Arrays; and Soft Wearable Robotics – update the roadmaps each year. The roadmaps contain detailed information on the current state of the art, market opportunities and needs, key stakeholders, a five-year forward-looking development roadmap, and prioritized technical gaps identified by each Technical Working Group. These roadmaps inform the priorities for NextFlex Project Calls.
Suggested Items
IDTechEx Report Unveils 3D Electronics Status and Opportunities
04/22/2024 | PRNewswire3D electronics is an emerging manufacturing approach that enables electronics to be integrated within or onto the surface of objects. 3D electronic manufacturing techniques empower new features, including mass customizability, greater integration, and improved sustainability in the electronics industry.
Altus Group Helps BitBox Unlock Productivity and Efficiency Gains with New Reflow Oven
04/22/2024 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading provider of capital equipment, has recently assisted BitBox, a UK-based electronics design, engineering and manufacturing company in upgrading its operations with the implementation of a new reflow oven from Heller Industries.
Growth Potential: Electronics Manufacturing Driving Massive Surge in Manufacturing Investment
04/22/2024 | Shawn DuBravac, IPCIn the early months of the pandemic, investment in manufacturing infrastructure, such as plants and production facilities, declined sharply. Real investment dropped over 11%, before finally recovering to pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2022. Over the past two years, however, several factors have combined to drive manufacturing investment to record levels.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
04/19/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineFor my must-read picks of the week, I’m highlighting Parker Capers, a young professional seeking employment, solid counsel from Dan Beaulieu on what your post-show plan should look like, more information and insight on “chiplets” and the need for secure data transfer standards from columnist Preeya Kuray, as well as Matt Stevenson’s design for reality wisdom. It’s a reminder to download one of our newest books (there are several) you don't want to miss if you are an assembler.
Absolute EMS Champions Collaboration Between Humans and Robots in Modern Manufacturing
04/19/2024 | Absolute EMS, Inc.Absolute EMS, Inc., an award-winning EMS provider of turnkey contract manufacturing services, offers a perfect factory environment that seamlessly blends robotic automation with human expertise.