The IDTechEx Masterclasses are tailored to client requirements and can vary in length from one to a full day each, including an open discussion of your company strategy in the topic if relevant (under non disclosure in some cases). They consist of slide presentations (which are also given in hard copy to the audience together with a lengthy glossary of terms), videos of RFID in action and smart packaging concepts and examination samples (in the case of RFID the World's largest collection of samples).

Sometimes a group task, a working demonstration and lectures by more than one expert are provided. They are participative, with the audience encouraged to dissent or add new information, not just ask questions of content. The Masterclasses always cover forecasting, marketing, business planning and benefits, technical aspects and evaluations, including the activities of companies and universities, emerging competition and unsolved problems that are opportunities for someone.

Each Masterclass is tailored to your needs, and all attendees are given free access to IDTechEx journals, plus follow-up help and introductions. Over the last six years IDTechEx has provided over 150 Masterclasses in North America, Canada, Europe, China, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Middle East and Australia. References are available upon request.

Scroll down for further information on the Masterclasses and to contact us for more information.

RFID Masterclass

We cover the definition and nature of RFID. Because it is an enabling technology rather than a single product, we explain the different ways it can work and the very different reasons why various applicational sectors use RFID. Project size and paybacks are illustrated.

Technical choices that we elaborate include choice of frequency, memory, range, chip vs chipless, and active vs passive. The concept of The Internet of Things and EPC is explained.

The RFID value chain is described, with the dynamics of each part and future trends. Paybacks, largest orders and largest emerging sectors, territories and suppliers are analysed but also the emerging billion dollar niches that receive little publicity such as Ubiquitous Sensor Networks USN, passports, banknotes, prisoners, intermodal containers and healthcare. Often, these have less competition and price sensitivity but they also have specialist materials and other requirements. Market size to 2020 is considered.

Smart Packaging Masterclass

Smart packaging covered in this Masterclass involves more than simple protective coatings with alphanumerics, graphics and barcodes. Although some suppliers of antitampering and anticounterfeiting features wish to call these smart, they have been around in some shape or form for thousands of years: they are not the heart of the matter. The excitement really revolves around responsive features, such as tags that radio back an identity code, “active” packaging that selectively lets gases in or out and packs that perform several valuable functions. We cover self-heating, self-cooling and self-mixing packages, smart aerosols and packages that reveal words or colours to warn of bioterrorist attacks and mishandling but these are only a few of the examples.

Consumers, including an increasingly elderly population, demand a dramatic improvement in the human interface even on disposable, cheap products and smart packaging is starting to provide this with packages that are speaking, vibrating, aroma emitting, flashing, sensing, recording pill removal and eventually electrically unlocking, electrically changing in texture and performing other wonders. The smart packaging Masterclass covers all this, including a plethora of Mechanical, Chemical/ Biological, Electrical and Electronic features now and in future and the materials and other opportunities they create. Samples and a video of a military application using new materials will be shown.

Market forecasts to 2015 are given and samples are shown. The market needs for safety, brand enhancement, crime reduction and so on are analysed and solutions proposed and materials and other challenges revealed such as better endothermic cooling, biodegradability and getting electroactive polymers to market.

Printed Electronics Masterclass

This Masterclass concentrates mainly on volume markets for printed electronics, notably for low cost flexible devices, including disposable ones. It is something of an antidote for those that have been led to believe that high volume printed electronics is not yet with us and that it will consist almost entirely of OLED displays and printed Thin Film Transistor Circuits TFTCs replacing existing products. Although these subjects are important and well covered in the Masterclass, it is in the context of the many successes today with printed conducting patterns, printed batteries, printed transistorless electronic circuits, printed electrical devices and so on, not least in creating new markets.

The emerging markets demand a very wide spread of low cost flexible displays from lowest price, low power, high volume, non emissive to higher price higher performance technologies. For example, low cost, printed electroluminescent and electrochromic displays on flexible substrates are a success today and have lessons for everyone. Photovoltaics, fuel cells, loudspeakers and sensors of all sorts are among the components likely to be codeposited as the materials and other challenges are solved.

Many lucrative new markets are being created by the imaginative use of little more than conductive patterns and printed batteries: others are being rejuvenated. We reveal the lessons to be learned from the success of companies with flair such as T-ink and Power Paper.

Silk screen printing is by far the most popular manufacturing method for printed electronics today but there is a need for something much faster, using new materials in smaller quantities. Ink jet printing is of interest to the majority of developers of TFTCs yet, even here, alternatives, using new materials, will have an important place. Semiconducting inks of poor mobility, use of lithium and excessive use of silver are among the many materials issues discussed.

We forecast the future of printed electronics to 2015 including:

• self-adjusting use-by dates
• moving colour advertisements on consumer goods/ wide area displays
• the use of the promised one gigabyte printed on a few square centimeters for only a few cents
• smart skin patches electrically delivering drugs, cosmetics and nutrients
• RFID printed directly onto packaging and products,
• EAS and many other applications, plus the technical challenges of getting there.

Finding out more

Company

Masterclasses typically last for one day including the tailored masterclass and discussion of opportunities in this area for your company. A non disclosure agreement can be signed as required. For more information please contact Raghu Das at or call + 44 (0) 1223 813703.

Events and conferences

We are delighted to offer versions of our Masterclasses as events at conferences to add further value to delegates. These can be optional paid-for events prior or post the conference. For more information please contact Raghu Das at or call + 44 (0) 1223 813703.