News Release

Electronics innovation wins Global Award

A plastic-enclosed electronics manufacturing system developed at Griffith University, has won a Global Innovation Award

Grant and Award Announcement

Griffith University

The revolutionary construction method has been acknowledged by an industry-reviewed panel as one of the best early-stage innovations in the world, with the greatest potential for a specific industry sector.

Created by Professor David Thiel and Mr Madhu Neeli, Senior Engineer and a part-time PhD student at Griffith University, the technology will now feature at the Innovation Showcase, TechConnect World 2013 in Washington, D.C.

As the world's largest expo of industry-vetted emerging-technologies the Innovation Showcase is expected to attract 4000 attendees from 70 countries.

Professor David Thiel from the Centre for Wireless Monitoring and Applications said he hoped the exposure would spark interest from electronics manufacturing companies.

"The full commercialisation of this circuit technology would deliver a considerable return to Griffith, but it is the environment which will benefit most," Professor Thiel said.

"Circuits in Plastic is a clean solution to existing highly polluting technology because it utilises far fewer toxic components such as lead and other carcinogens."

Mr Neeli said this will significantly alleviate the world-wide problem of ever growing electronic waste (e-waste), which the United Nations currently estimates is between 20 and 50 million tonnes each year.

"Millions of people are affected by electronics pollution in underdeveloped and developing countries both during manufacturing and at the end of the product's life," Mr Neeli said.

"This technology would prevent future health problems associated with current electronics manufacturing technology."

Director of Strategic Development at TechConnect, Jennifer Rocha congratulated the Griffith research team on their award.

"The innovations submitted for consideration came from academic technology commercialisation offices, early-stage companies, small business innovative research (SBIR) awardees, as well as government and corporate research laboratories," Ms Rocha said.

"The winning submissions will now go on show at the TechConnect Innovation Showcase being staged in Washington, D.C. on May 14 and 15."

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