PragmatIC Semiconductor (Cambridge, UK), a world leader in flexible electronics, is leading a £2.4 million project with funding provided by the Made Smarter Innovation: Smart Sustainable Factory Challenge at UK Research and Innovation. The INSPIRE project will develop and deploy new digital technologies within PragmatIC’s FlexLogIC semiconductor fabrication facilities, to drive improved resource efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing operations.

In the face of an ageing population, smart technology will play a vital role in improving elder individuals’ quality of life and dignity, Henkel Qhesive Solutions (Düsseldorf, Germany) have demonstrated how innovation will be helping to address the challenge of caring for those affected by incontinence: A long term trial of Smart Adult Care recently run in a nursing home in Italy has shown that digital diapers can improve the patient’s wellbeing through more timely changes, while allowing staff to focus on delivering better care.