Finance for Printed Electronics is Not Drying Up

This follows on the heels of funding problems at Thin Film Electronics in Sweden; the company printing non-volatile memory so urgently needed for the printed electronics of the future. Its process involves an elegant, simple capacitor-like structure containing a layer of organic ferroelectric, with giant Solvay signed up as a partner to further improve the formulation. Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") announced on 5 December 2008 that "discussions with a potential industrial shareholding partner had been put on hold due to the situation in the world's financial markets. Consequently the board of Thinfilm has considered various alternative routes forward towards the commercialisation of the company's technology. As a result of the current financial market combined with the company's cash resources, Thinfilm needs to adjust its operation to ensure timely completion of certain critical tasks related to industrialisation and the establishment of channels to the market. The board of directors has decided to initiate cost savings in Linköping, Sweden. A core team will be retained. The savings are expected to take effect by the end of the first quarter of 2009."