Singularity Summit 2010

Via KurzweilAI.net — just the news …

Singularity Summit 2010 returns to San Francisco, explores intelligence augmentation

KurzweilAI.net, May 31, 2010 The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) plans to announce its Singularity Summit 2010 conference tomorrow, scheduled for August 14-15 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. “This year, the conference shifts to a focus on neuroscience, bioscience, cognitive enhancement, and other explorations of what Vernor Vinge called ‘intelligence amplification‘ (IA) — the other route to the Singularity,” said Michael Vassar, president of SIAI. Irene Pepperberg, author of “Alex & Me,” who has pushed the frontier of animal intelligence with her research on African Gray Parrots, will explore the ethical and practical implications of non-human intelligence enhancement and of the creation of new intelligent life less powerful than ourselves. Futurist–inventor Ray Kurzweil will discuss reverse-engineering the brain and his forthcoming book, How the Mind Works and How to Build One. Allan Synder, Director, Centre for the Mind at the University of Sydney, will explore the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation for the enhancement of narrow cognitive abilities. Joe Tsien will talk about the smarter rats and mice that he created by tuning the molecular substrate of the brain‘s learningmechanism. Steve Mann, “the world’s first cyborg,” will demonstrate his latest geek-chic inventions: wearablecomputers now used by almost 100,000 people. Other speakers will include magician-skeptic and MacArthur Genius Award winner James Randi; Gregory Stock (Redesigning Humans), Director of the Program on Medicine, Technology, and Society at UCLA’s School of Public Health; Terry Sejnowski, Professor and Laboratory Head, Salk Institute Computational NeurobiologyLaboratory, who believes we are just ten years away from being able to upload ourselves; Ellen Heber-Katz, Professor, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program at The Wistar Institute, who is investigating the molecular basis of wound regeneration in mutant mice, which can regenerate limbs, hearts, and spinal cords; Anita Goel, MD, physicist, and CEO of nanotechnology company Nanobiosym; and David Hanson, Founder & CEO, HansonRobotics, who is creating the world’s most realistichumanoid robots. Registration is $385 until June 7. Full disclosure: KurzweilAI.net is a media partner inSingularity Summit 2010.

American Society for Nanomedicine holding first conference in late October

Very hot from the inbox — news on the first conference from the new organiztion, the American Society for Nanomedicine:

Newly Formed American Society for Nanomedicine (ASNM) to Hold First Conference (www.amsocnanomed.org)

ASHBURN, Va., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nanomedicine – the science and technology of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease to improve human health using nanotechnology – has the potential to revolutionize healthcare.  Current and future products range from miniaturized “smart pills” that precision-target certain cancers to nanosensors that are capable of navigating through the body for early detection of disorders.  These approaches have the ability to reduce toxicity for the patient, thereby improving efficacy and patient compliance.  The newly formed American Society for Nanomedicine (ASNM) is holding its inaugural conference on October 22-25, 2009 in the Washington D.C. area, where some of the biggest stakeholders in this emerging technology operate and practice.

This major interdisciplinary international conference is designed for physicians, scientists, policy-makers, engineers, lawyers and educators from government, academia and industry.  The conference venue is the Bolger Center in Potomac, Maryland, USA (http://www.dolce-bolger-center-hotel.com/).

This four-day conference will highlight numerous cutting-edge presentations broken up into various sessions focusing on innovations in nanomedicine and applications of nanotechnology to the pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology industries.  It will feature more than forty speakers, who are among the top researchers and leaders in various facets of nanomedicine throughout the world. The areas of emphasis are clinical applications of nanotechnology enabling successful vaccine development, effective cancer therapy and novel drug delivery approaches.  In addition, issues such as ethics, safety and toxicity, patent law, intellectual property and commercialization will be addressed.  Poster sessions, an award ceremony and numerous networking opportunities are included.

About American Society for Nanomedicine

American Society for Nanomedicine (ASNM) is a professional non-profit, medical society headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, USA.  It promotes worldwide seminal research activities in nanomedicine and explores the applications of nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology industries.  Members also discuss issues such as ethics, toxicity, patents and commercialization.  They are drawn from diverse and overlapping fields such as biotechnology, engineering, medicine, policy and law. Members enjoy numerous benefits, including reduced rates to attend ASNM conferences and discounted rates to ASNM-affiliated journals.

Conference Information/Registration: www.amsocnanomed.org

Source: American Society for Nanomedicine

Web Site:  http://www.amsocnanomed.org/

Tweeting CPAC

Here’s a collection of Twitter tweets with the #cpac09 hashtag. I’m guessing many are coming from the wankfest that is CPAC 2009.

If you want to follow this yourself just head to Twitter and do a search for the #cpac09hash (or just hit the convenient link I provided).

And now, the tweets:

Shoq: LOL 11 people show at Borders for Joe The Plumber book signing. 5 copies sold at #cpac09. See? Conservatives DO know piffle!

MattFriedeman: The 2% illusion…take all they’ve got and it still won’t be enough! (WSJ) http://tinyurl.com/bv7xjo (expand) #tcot #cpac09

MartyEisenstadt: Katherine Harris minus Overdone Makeup equals Michelle Bachmann. No? #cpac09

jmp5329: Us making fun of Joe the Plumber, no matter if you like him or not, is as bad as Chris Matthews making fun of Jindal #cpac09

CoraleneLayer: So nice to pray with a whole room and not need to be in church. #Cpac09

Pal2Pal: @jmp5329 Making fun of Joe or Sarah is elitists admitting they have no answers for common sense & are afraid the people are right. #cpac09

I’ll update this list a bit later.

Update 7:30 — Upon reflection, to Pal2Pal above, I must an elitist with no answers for common sense. Because we all know both Palin and (not)Joe the fool are paragons of all sorts of sense.

More tweets:

lenejohansen: Still think Palin was the freshest breath of the four that battled it out Nov 4th, no matter what issues we disagre on. #tcot #cpac09

dmataconis: wonders why the guy who questioned Obama’s citizenship wasn’t booed off the stage at #cpac09

ultimatejosh: White Nationalist group “Youth for Western Civilization” allowed at #CPAC09 http://tinyurl.com/aatlmx (expand) #tcot

Tuck23: Blog updated http://arob.tumblr.com pullin no punches…UN has it coming going after free speech #politics #cpac09 #tcot

Solar air conditioning

A release from this afternoon:

Cooling Buildings With Solar Heat

Solar air conditioning an up and coming trend at estec2009

MUNICH and PFORZHEIM, Germany, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Intersolar 2009, Munich, May 27 – 29, 2009 — Up and coming markets such as the solar air conditioning market are among the major themes of the 4th European Solar Thermal Energy Conference estec2009, which will take place in Munich on May 25 and 26. estec is the largest international conference for solar thermal technology and an international forum for representatives of industry, associations, research and politics. As was the case with estec2007, the event will take place in the run-up to the world’s largest trade show for solar technology, Intersolar.

Demand for cooling systems is growing extremely rapidly. This growth is driving up worldwide demand for electricity, especially in the warmer climatic zones. As a consequence, interest in innovative, energy-saving technologies such as solar thermal is also growing. The principal function of solar thermal systems is actually to convert solar energy into useful heat energy. However, this heat energy can also be used for the energy-efficient air conditioning of buildings.

Rising electricity prices are creating increased interest in alternative cooling

Sales of air conditioning systems with a cooling capacity of up to 5 kW almost doubled between 2002 and 2007, rising from 44 to 75 million systems. This increasing demand for cooling capacity, coupled with the rising cost of electricity, is creating additional interest in innovative and sustainable technologies  such as solar thermal air conditioning of buildings. The electricity consumption of conventional air conditioning systems is very high. In addition, they are subject to increasing criticism, not only due to the use of problematic cooling agents such as CFCs but also due to the CO2 emissions they cause. The solar thermal cooling of buildings, on the other hand, makes use of natural resources and protects the environment. Unlike conventional cooling systems, which draw electrical energy from the electricity grid, solar air conditioning is powered by solar heat. This heat is obtained using solar collectors. The basis for solar thermal cooling is the thermochemical process known as sorption. The cooling energy is generated either by the adherence of the vaporized cooling agent (generally water) to a solid (adsorption) or by the incorporation of the cooling agent into a solvent mixture (absorption). Solar heat is then introduced to force the cooling agent out of the solution or solid, so that the process can be repeated.

Water is generally used as the cooling agent in these systems as it is environmentally friendly and has no negative effects on the climate. Solar air conditioning therefore not only saves energy; it is also an efficient way of protecting the climate. In addition, buildings require the most cooling at the hottest times of the day and in sunnier southern regions. It is a further advantage of solar air conditioning that the greatest demand for air conditioning exists where solar irradiation is at its highest.

1.4 to 2 kilowatt hours of solar heat are required for the production of one kilowatt hour of cooling energy. However, as solar heat does not have to be purchased from an electricity supplier at great cost, this efficiency ratio does not represent a serious problem for the new technology. The initial outlay costs, which are still high, and the consequently long amortization periods represent challenges for solar air conditioning; but they are challenges which can be met. According to the European scientists involved in the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP), which was set up at estec2005: “rising electricity prices and more and more efficient systems mean that mid-term prospects are excellent in this sector.”

estec2009 – trends and challenges in the European solar thermal sector

The prospects of solar air conditioning and other big issues facing the solar thermal industry are among the central themes of the 4th European Solar Thermal Energy Conference estec2009. The conference is organized by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and will take place on May 25 and 26, 2009, at the Bayrischer Hof hotel in Munich. As the world’s largest international conference focusing exclusively on solar heating and cooling, The conference will feature specialist presentations on technological trends and global and national market developments and is aimed at the decision makers of the sector, including representatives of industry, commerce, the associations and politics. There will also be plenty of time and scope for networking – beyond European borders. The organizers are expecting around 600 expert visitors from over 50 countries to attend. ESTIF is presenting a growing industry which has a turnover of around two billion euros a year and which provides more than 30,000 jobs in Europe – and both these figures are set to continue to rise.

The continued cooperation with the world’s largest solar technology trade show Intersolar 2009 provides innovative solar thermal companies with the opportunity to present themselves to a wide target audience – beyond the scope of the conference itself – and ensures that both events and the companies involved gain a maximum of international attention.

For further information on Intersolar 2009, please visit www.intersolar.de.

For further information on ESTIF and estec2009, please visit www.estif.org / www.estec2009.org.

Sponsors of Intersolar 2009:

Intersolar 2009 is supported by the leading solar industry associations: the German Solar Industry Association (BSW), as the exclusive partner of Intersolar, the German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and the International Solar Energy Society (ISES).

About Intersolar:

The Intersolar brand is internationally recognized as the leading event for the solar energy industry. The two events, Intersolar in Munich and Intersolar North America, are jointly organized by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG and their North American subsidiaries and serve the entire international solar supply chain and global solar industry. Intersolar in Munich, held annually, is the world’s largest solar exhibition with 1,300 exhibitors – currently from 38 countries – across 1,076,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space and 60,000 visitors expected in 2009. Intersolar North America 2009, also held annually, will feature about 400 exhibitors across more than 90,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space and 15,000 visitors.

About estec2009/ESTIF:

The European Solar Thermal Energy Conference estec2009 is the largest conference of its kind in the world. It is organized every two years by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF).

Source: Intersolar
   

Web Site:  http://www.intersolar.us/

Stem cell transplantation news

The release from today:

Research Explores the Effects of Stem Cell Source and Patient Age on Stem Cell Transplantation Outcomes

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Two studies examining the effects of stem cell source and patient age on stem cell transplantation outcomes will be explored at a press conference taking place on Sunday, December 7, at 8:00 a.m., during the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Francisco, CA. Preliminary results from a study examining a specialized technique for increasing the presence of stem cells in cord blood for transplantation will also be shared during the press conference.

“For years, stem cell transplants have been a standard treatment option for many blood cancers and other hematologic conditions,” said Armand Keating, MD, moderator of the press conference and Director, Division of Hematology, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “The results of these studies add to the growing body of knowledge about the best regimens available to help produce durable responses and prolonged survival in many groups of patients.”

Blood cancers – leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma – are typically treated with a combination of treatments including chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation is the process by which blood stem cells are collected from a donor, or from the patient prior to chemotherapy, and then infused into the patient after treatment. The transplanted stem cells travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce new blood cells, replacing those that are destroyed as a side effect of chemotherapy. Stem cell transplants are categorized by the source of the stem cells (bone marrow, peripheral blood, or cord blood) and by their origin – autologous (from the patient) or allogeneic (from a donor).

Effect of Stem Cell Source on Transplant Outcomes in Adults With Acute Leukemia: A Comparison of Unrelated Bone Marrow, Peripheral Blood, and Cord Blood [Abstract #151]

Mary Eapen, MBBS, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation along with the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the New York Blood Center

In the absence of a matched sibling donor, the first choice for stem cell transplantation for patients with acute leukemia is an unrelated adult donor whose tissue type matches that of the patient. However, when such a donor is not available, the researchers of this study found that mismatched unrelated cord blood transplants were a suitable alternative to mismatched bone marrow or peripheral blood transplants because cord blood is readily available, making it an ideal option when transplantation is needed urgently.

For successful transplantation, bone marrow and peripheral blood donors are examined for genetic compatibility with the patient by comparing their human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). Current estimates from the National Marrow Donor Program donor registry suggest that the probability of finding a matched unrelated adult donor is relatively low (51 percent for Caucasians, 30 percent for Hispanics, 20 percent for Asians, and 17 percent for African Americans).

Cord blood donated to public cord blood banks can be an alternative source of stem cells for patients who need a transplant but cannot find a matched adult donor. The matching requirements for cord blood are not as strict as for bone marrow or peripheral blood because cord blood cells are immunologically immature and therefore more tolerant to mismatching.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of three types of stem cell sources: bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood. Study results were based on an analysis of the outcomes of 1,240 adults with acute leukemia (707 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and 533 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia) from 2002 to 2006. Of those patients who received a bone marrow stem cell transplant, 243 were matched at eight out of eight possible HLA loci and 111 were matched at seven HLA loci. In those receiving a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, 518 were matched at eight HLA loci and 210 at seven HLA loci. In those receiving cord blood transplants, 28 were matched at five or six HLA loci and 110 matched at four HLA loci.

The study found that there were fewer transplant-related deaths for matched peripheral blood and bone marrow transplants (27 percent and 26 percent, respectively) than as for mismatched peripheral blood, bone marrow, and cord blood transplants (42 percent, 37 percent, and 41 percent, respectively). Leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) were highest after transplantation of matched peripheral blood (LFS: 43 percent; OS: 45 percent) and bone marrow (LFS: 46 percent; OS: 48 percent). These rates were lower after transplantation of mismatched peripheral blood (LFS: 33 percent; OS: 36 percent), bone marrow (LFS: 34 percent; OS: 38 percent), and cord blood (LFS: 33 percent; OS: 35 percent). Importantly, rates of transplant-related deaths, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival for the three types of mismatched transplants were similar even though cord blood transplants were mismatched at more HLA loci.

Notch-Mediated Expansion of Human Cord Blood Progenitor Cells Results in Rapid Myeloid Reconstitution in Vivo Following Myeloablative Cord Blood Transplantation

  [Abstract #212]
  Colleen Delaney, MD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA

This phase I study found that cord blood that is cultured to increase the number of CD34+ stem cells prior to transplantation helped to decrease the time to engraftment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Cord blood is a valuable source of hematopoietic stem cells as it has a higher concentration of these cells than is normally found in adult blood. However, as only a small quantity of blood can typically be obtained from an umbilical cord, resulting in fewer available stem cells for transplantation, researchers have been investigating novel methods to expand the number of stem cells available from cord blood to help increase the success rates of cord blood stem cell transplants.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of giving increased numbers of cord blood progenitor cells that have been generated through a novel methodology whereby CD34+ cord blood progenitor cells are cultured prior to infusion to rapidly multiply in order to decrease the time required for the transplanted cells to engraft and begin production of healthy blood cells.

A total of six patients with acute myeloid leukemia were treated with a transplantation- preparation regimen of cytoxan (120 mg/kg), fludarabine (75 mg/m^2), and TBI (1320 cGy), followed one day later by an infusion of one unit of non-cultured cord blood and one unit of cord blood that had been CD34+ enriched and cultured for 16 days. The non-cultured unit was given to provide long-term repopulating stem cells that had not been previously manipulated, while the goal of the expanded unit was to provide cells capable of rapid myeloid recovery.

To achieve best results, cord blood units that most closely genetically matched the patient were selected for transfusion. All non-cultured cord blood stem cells were matched for four out of six alleles for each patient. For the cultured cord blood cells, two patients received a five-out-of-six allele match and four patients received a four-out-of-six allele match. There was an average CD34+ increase of 160 (range 41 to 382), meaning that for every one CD34+ cell, there were 160 CD34+ cells after the culture, with an average total nucleated cell fold increase of 660 (range 146 to 1496). A control group of 17 patients underwent an identical transplant regimen, but received two non-cultured cord blood units.

A relatively rapid engraftment time, averaging 14 days, was observed in the six patients in the experimental group compared with 25 days for the patients in the control group. The contribution of the expanded and non-cultured cord blood cells was determined by a DNA-based assay beginning seven days following the transplant. In the five patients with early engraftment, the engrafted cells present at day seven were derived almost entirely from the cultured unit. Persistent contribution to engraftment from the cultured cells was noted in two patients. One patient had persistent contribution from the cultured cells through 280 days post-transplant that was no longer noticeable at one year, and the second patient continued to demonstrate contribution from the cultured cells at 180 days post-transplant. One patient died on day 462 from a rare complication of myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord) caused by the varicella-zoster virus, while all other patients were still in remission.

Non-Myeloablative Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Older Patients With AML and MDS: Results From the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) [Abstract #346]

Sergio Giralt, MD, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

This study found that the outcomes of adults over the age of 65 undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes were similar to younger adults even after adjusting for multiple risk factors. The researchers concluded that age alone should not be a limiting factor for proceeding to allogeneic stem cell transplantation in these patients.

While stem cell transplantation remains one of the best treatment options for increasing overall survival and a possible cure for patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, transplants generally are not given to patients over the age of 65 because of concerns about extreme toxicity and poor outcomes. Over the past few years, non-myeloablative transplants that require smaller and safer doses of chemotherapy and radiation have allowed stem cell transplants to be conducted in older individuals or other patients considered too weak to withstand conventional stem cell treatment regimens.

To better study age as a predictor of outcome in patients receiving stem cell transplants, data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) on 565 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and 551 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes were retrospectively analyzed for transplant-related mortality, engraftment, incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival. Outcome data gathered from 1995 to 2005 were stratified into four groups by patient age for comparison: ages 40 to 54, 54 to 59, 60 to 64, and 65 and older.

The analysis found that there was no statistically significant difference in transplant-related mortality across age groups, and no overall difference in the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (31-35 percent at 100 days) or chronic graft-versus-host disease (36-53 percent at two years). Rates of relapse were similar across all age groups (29-30 percent at three years). Additionally, no statistically significant impact of age was found for transplant-related mortality, leukemia-free survival, or overall survival. Type of disease and disease status at transplant were significant risk factors for leukemia-free survival and overall survival at one year and for transplant-related mortality and relapse at two years. Patients’ general health and degree of tissue-type match between recipient and donor were also significant at two years for nearly all outcomes.

American Society of Hematology 50th Annual Meeting

The study authors and press program moderator will be available for interviews after the press conference or by telephone. Additional press briefings will take place throughout the meeting on combating blood clots, therapeutic strategies for platelet disorders, treatment advances in leukemia and lymphoma, and advances in screening and treatment for sickle cell disease.

The American Society of Hematology (www.hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. In September, ASH launched Blood: The Vital Connection (www.bloodthevitalconnection.org), a credible online resource addressing bleeding and clotting disorders, anemia, and cancer. It provides hematologist-approved information about these common blood conditions including risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment options. A cornerstone of this public awareness campaign is a new documentary by award-winning filmmaker Joseph Lovett called “Blood Detectives,” which will air on the Discovery Health cable network on December 19, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT and again at 12:00 midnight. The show focuses on hematologists as they work to unravel medical mysteries and save lives.

Source: American Society of Hematology
   

Web Site:  http://www.bloodthevitalconnection.org/

Flexible Electronics and Displays Conference adds Business and Investment Summit

From the release:

FlexTech Alliance Announces Business and Investment Summit 2009

8th Annual Flexible Electronics and Displays Conference Adds Premier Event to Launch Flex Week 2009

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — The FlexTech Alliance (formerly known as the U.S. Display Consortium or USDC), the only organization headquartered in North America devoted to developing the electronic display and the flexible, printed electronics supply chain, today announced the addition of a Business and Investment Summit to its annual Flexible Electronics and Displays Conference during Flex Week 2009 set for February 2-5 in Phoenix, Ariz.  The inaugural all-day event, set for Monday, February 2, will kick off Flex Week with its “Bridging the Information Gap” theme.  This summit is aimed to connect innovators and manufacturers of flexible, printed electronics and displays with investors and consumer product developers in an effort to foster a stronger ecosystem in the burgeoning printed electronics markets.

“The markets for printed electronics are emerging, and while quickly growing, still remain relatively small due to cost and performance hurdles for mainstream use.  As a part of resolving these challenges, companies need to better understand the value of investing in flexible and printed electronics innovation, and how these enabling technologies will shape the future of consumer electronics,” noted Kevin Cammack, FlexTech’s director of technical marketing and development, and organizer of the summit.  “The summit is chartered with that very objective in mind — cultivating greater understanding among the players within the chain — by bringing together influencers in an active forum discussion in an effort to further collaboration.”

The Business and Investment Summit will open with an overview of the opportunities and markets, featuring visionary and pragmatic talks from leading market research firms, investment banks and venture capital firms. The summit will also host a business roundtable luncheon that will bring together attendees for more focused discussions, followed by an afternoon session on investment opportunities, strategies, pitfalls and lessons learned. This portion of the all-day event will highlight private companies and start-ups that are developing game-changing technologies in flexible, printed electronics and displays, and will be followed by a reception for networking and additional dialog.  Featured keynote addresses and panelists during the event include key players such as, CMEA Ventures, Uni-Solar, Crate & Barrel, Applied Materials, Motorola, Mark Andy Inc., Cintelliq and Lux Research.

The summit audience will consist of top-tier investors, senior management from fast-rising start-ups, and technology directors from innovative manufacturers of flexible, printed electronics including:

  — Printing processes and technologies (e.g., materials, substrates)
  — Equipment for high-throughput manufacturing of large-area electronics
  — Sensors and RFID
  — Photovoltaics
  — Solid-state lighting and OLEDs
  — Flexible displays

About the FlexTech Alliance

The FlexTech Alliance is the only organization headquartered in North America exclusively devoted to fostering the growth, profitability and success of the electronic display and the flexible, printed electronics supply chain. Leveraging its rich history in promoting the display industry as the U.S. Display Consortium, the FlexTech Alliance offers expanded collaboration between and among industry, academia, government, and research organizations for advancing displays and flexible, printed electronics from R&D to commercialization.  To this end, the FlexTech Alliance, based in San Jose, Calif., will help foster development of the supply chain required to support a world-class, manufacturing capability for displays and flexible, printed electronics.  More information about the FlexTech Alliance can be found at the industry portal:  http://www.flextech.org/.

Source: FlexTech Alliance
   

Web site:  http://www.flextech.org/