Ynvisible and Fraunhofer sign electrochromics co-operation agreement
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest institution for applied research, and Ynvisible Interactive Inc. (Vancouver, Canada) signed a MoU in the field of electrochromic inks and devices.
The co-operation aims to accomplish several objectives related to the development and proliferation of electrochromic inks and devices. The agreement outlines that joint business explorations will be conducted, seeking to enhance commercial uses of Fraunhofer’s technologies and skills in electrochromics by combining them with Ynvisible’s technology and beyond. Developments will be jointly carried out by using a combination of each parties’ proprietary technologies, skills and capabilities.
In the collaboration Fraunhofer and Ynvisible will continue to carry out joint business planning and technology dissemination activities from their shared earlier work. Ynvisible has previously worked with two Fraunhofer institutes: Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC and Fraunhofer Research Institution for Organics, Materials and Electronic Devices COMEDD. Collaboration has centered around two EU co-funded projects, EELICON and DecoChrom.
EELICON (Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Comfort by Smart Light Transmittance Control), was a Fraunhofer ISC led EU FP7 co-funded project, which ran from 2014-2017. The project consortium developed retrofittable light and heat blocking electrochromic films, which would be cheaper to produce than electrochromic glass and provide more opportunities for commercial applications. In the project Ynvisible participated in business planning activities and exploration of application possibilities in market areas outside of conventional smart windows.
The collaboration has since been continued in the EU Horizon 2020 co-funded project DecoChrom, which kicked-off in Q1/2018. The project elevates printed graphics to the 21st century, by developing capabilities of designers of high-value consumer goods. First results of the work between Fraunhofer and Ynvisible have been on display through demonstrators from the DecoChrom project.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2019), Ynvisible showed patterned light blocking films that could be integrated into consumer products for a range of end applications requiring increased levels of branding/communications, and/or light blocking functionality.
“With its recently established development facility in Freiburg, Ynvisible can push on the production maturity and marketability for electrochromics with great vigour, together with its strong partners from the electrochromic community,” said Uwe Posset, project manager for electrochromic material development from Fraunhofer ISC.
“Ynvisible continues to build collaborations with globally leading organisations in the field of electrochromics. We do so to strengthen our respective capabilities and gain access to inventions that enhance our technology and product offering. Fraunhofer is a global leader in our field, bringing electrochromics research into innovations and products. We are excited to be partnering with them,” added Dr Carlos Pinheiro, CTO Ynvisible.
Caption: Ynvisible and Fraunhofer want to further advance the field of electrochromic inks (photo: Ynvisible)