The new print technology “Micro-contact printing technology”, jointly developed by Metal Industries Research and Development Centre (MIRDC) and National Chung Cheng University (NCCU), generates cross-nation research cooperation between Taiwan and Germany. This might be a chance for this new technology to be applied in the German company’s print work station.

Flexible electronic printing, a new direction for electronic industry, is based on organic electronic printing to develop print skills for precision electronic circuit and film printing. This is a breakthrough of traditional concept of printing. The research planning of innovation and advanced technology in MIRDC combines the NCCU research team to develop the advanced technology of Micro-contact printing technology, which is theme for paper delivered at LOPE-C2011 in June 2011 in Germany. During LOPE-C2011, MIRDC technical personnel made acquaintance with key persons from Chemnitz University of Technology and 3D-Micromac AG and thus initiated a cooperative step with focus on flexible electronic printing and its related studies. The three parties have signed MOU on October 18 to realize the technical exchange and information sharing on various studies between Taiwan and Germany.

Being an advanced country of global organic electronic printing, Germany has a strong industry chain to combine upstream, midstream and downstream industries, from international organizations, federal government to industry and academic cooperation. As a member of this industry chain, Chemnitz University of Technology and 3D-Micromac AG are the pioneer of organic electronic printing technology and equipment development. MIRDC highly expects the cooperation to introduce more foreign research capabilities in the flexible electronic printing and jointly develop the latest professional technology. Currently micro-contact printing technology is gradually introduced to local companies and hopefully will be integrated in the printing work station designed by 3D-Micromac.

Organic electronic printing is widely applied, including OLED display, which can be used for screens of TV, cell phone and videogame. In the aspect of illumination, organic electronic printing can replace the old-style lighting to be lighter and cheaper. The other applications include flexible battery, clothes, curtain and medical sensor to timely monitor the patient situation.