Plan for an International Study of Hybrid Flexible Electronics

Duane Shelton

August 27, 2008

A hybrid flexible camera system that is a big step toward a bionic eye—from Illinois

"We believe that some of the most compelling areas of future application involve the intimate, conformal integration of electronics with the human body, in ways that are inconceivable using established technologies." "This approach allows us to put electronics in places where we couldn't before. We can now, for the first time, move device design beyond the flatland constraints of conventional systems." John Rogers, Nature, August 7, 2008

Researchers have developed a rubber that is able to conduct electricity well, paving the way for robots with stretchable "e-skin" that can feel heat and pressure like humans.. "Objects that come into contact with humans are often not square or flat. We believe interfaces between humans and electronics should be soft." Takao Someya, University of Tokyo, in Science August 7, 2008

An E-skin for robots -- from Japan

WTEC mission

Inform U.S. agencies, universities, and research community of science and technology abroad in critical fields

World Technology Evaluation Center, Inc.

Baltimore, College Park, Lancaster, Johnstown, Arlington.

Acknowledgements

…and over 400 expert panelists, thousands of foreign hosts

Why conduct international assessments?

Guide U. S. R&D investments Look for good ideas abroad (tech

transfer) Find opportunities for cooperation Compare U.S. status with that abroad Justify investment in R&D. Pointing

with alarm is an example

Why point with alarm?

Research and education are changing rapidly abroad

Greatly increased investments are producing substantial outputs—we can learn from abroad

Further, since we care about U.S. leadership of engineering, we need more resources to compete

Pointing with alarm can be a powerful motivator, e.g. Rising Above the Gathering Storm report—next a Chinese case study

Chinese research output

Paper Share (Forecast After 2005)

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•Each year PRC increases R&D by 19% (US 3%)

•Shelton model ties this input to scientific paper output

WTEC past and present:over 60 studies since 1989

Brain-Computer Interfaces (TATRC, NSF, NIBIB, NINDS, 2 foundations)

Catalysis by Nanostructured Materials (NSF, DOE, AFOSR, DTRA)

Simulation-Based Engineering & Science (24 programs at 4 agencies)

WTEC also staffs the NNCO and provides workshops and IT support

WTEC future

Continue onsite research support at NNCO Plan Government-wide initiative on

simulation-based engineering & science International study on stem cells for

tissue engineering International study of hybrid flexible

electronics

WTEC methods

Write grant proposals that can pass peer review*

Establish a coalition of sponsors who have resources to make it happen

Recruit a great panel from Government nominations*

Conduct the study effectively; Government participates in decisions—like where to go*

Maintain good host relations, so we can return in future studies

Publish an outstanding report*

* More in appendix

From Draft Statement of Work

What is the position of foreign R&D relative to the U.S.?

What are the barriers in development that can be learned abroad?

What are the innovations and ideas that are worth exploring in the U.S.?

What are the opportunities for international collaboration?

Nov. 08 Kick-Off Meeting (All Panelists, Sponsors)

Jan. 09 U.S. Baseline Workshop (Optional)

Feb. 09 Site Visits Asia (First Priority?)

Mar. 09 Site Visits Europe (Optional)

Apr. 09 Final workshop at NSF

Jul. 09 Final report draft

Proposed timeline for study

Sponsorship Benefits: International Assessment Study

Leverage of full study for approximate price of a workshop

Advances interagency cooperation Recognition in report and website Advance review of report Ideas for initiatives and cooperation Find out what your counterparts abroad are

up to

Basic International Assessment Study; Options Later

5-person panel of U.S. experts Kickoff meeting with panel and sponsors Study 15 to 20 sites in one week (either in

Europe or Asia). Workshop to present findings to

professional community Written report: Introduction, Exec

Summary plus 4 technical chapters, appendix has site report for each site.

Options Added to Basic Study

Additional study tour week in second region: Europe or Asia

U.S. baseline workshop More bibliometric study More panelists for broader scope Book by major publisher

Distinguished panelists

NSF Director (Colwell) Directors of DOE Office of Science (Trivelpiece,

Dresselhaus) Chief of Naval Research (Mooney) Director of NIGMS (Cassman) Chief Scientist of the USAF (Feigenbaum) Vice presidents for research of IBM, Bell Labs,

Seagate Technology Presidents or provosts of UC (Berkeley, San Diego

and UC system) and Rensselaer Over 400 other engineers and scientists

WTEC senior staff experience

Duane Shelton (Universities, NSF, U.S. House)

Mike DeHaemer (Captain USN (ret.) skipper of SSBN, Universities)

Dave Nelson (ex-Director of NITRD, the Government-wide IT initiative)

Geoff Holdridge (NRC, NSF, staff director of NNCO)

Grant Amount International Studies

WTEC1(2001)

$3.7 million 7

WTEC2(2004)

$5.3 million 7

WTEC3(2007)

$1.8 million 3 Underway

•At Loyola there were six such peer-reviewed grants. •WTEC is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute.•Grants include other tasks, especially workshops and NNCO support

NSF/WTEC “umbrella” grants

Impacts: support of initiatives

DARPA Flat Panel Displays Initiative DOD/DOC Electronic Packaging Initiative NTSC Electronics Manufacturing Initiative National Nanotechnology Initiative Benign Manufacturing MUSES Program Spin Electronics Program Announcement Tissue Engineering Strategic Plan

Conducting a study efficiently

Staff experience means that most problems can be avoided based on precedent

WTEC locations mean: Low overhead (29%) Affordable salary scale Close enough to meet in Washington

area

Advance work / host review

Cultivating good relations with hosts is critical Some hosts are resistant, but WTEC is well

known abroad NSF image helps greatly in obtaining access Advance work is expensive, but makes the

study tour more effective Hosts review site and final reports

Report editing

Our reports are of academic quality with full citations, etc.

Analytical chapters written by experts Site reports are merely an appendix

They are edited several times We always have to extract chapters

from holdouts Published in 9 books; we now have an

international technology series with Springer with 3 published, 1 in press

SCI Papers in Hybrid Electronics and Related Fields

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Preliminary Bibliometrics