SAN LUIS OBISPO - Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department was awarded the Flexi Award for Technology Leadership in Education during the 2015 FlexTech Alliance Conference Feb. 27 in Monterey, Calif. 

The Flexi is awarded to organizations that demonstrate outstanding contributions to the flexible and printed electronics industry through education. The quality of education, practical applicability, number of students completing courses, and focus on flexible printed electronics are also taken into consideration.

Mike Ciesinski, president and CEO of the FlexTech Alliance, presented the award, citing the Graphic Communication Department’s focus on educating students in the emerging area of printed and flexible electronics. 

The department showcased numerous collaborative projects in printed electronics at the conference’s exhibition and presented a short course, Introduction to Printed Electronics. Professor Malcolm Keif, coordinator of the recently formed printed electronics and functional imaging graduate program, delivered his paper “Patterning of Transparent Electrodes.” 

Keif and his students organized a Printed Electronics Demonstration Zone, where Cal Poly, Clemson University, UC Berkeley and Western Michigan State University
demonstrated various printing methods and applications in printed electronics.

“The Graphic Communication Department at Cal Poly is known for graduating high- caliber students who find careers in many areas of printing, packaging and interactive media,” Keif said. “Now we are creating skills that bridge printing/graphics and electronics to foster the rapidly developing industry of printed, flexible electronics and hybrid electronics.”

The FlexTech Alliance works to foster the growth, profitability and success of the flexible and printed electronics supply chain and the many application areas engendered by this new form of electronic intelligence. The alliance provides collaborative opportunities for industry professionals, students, teachers and research institutions.