OE-A and LOPEC celebrate innovation

The focus of this year's OE-A Competition is on sustainable solutions for the smart living market.

20 entrants from around the world submitted their latest visions and products to the OE-A Competition 2025. From smart patches for healthcare applications to hydrogen tanks and new lighting applications: innovative demos and products that illustrate the potential and capabilities of printed electronics were recognised at LOPEC 2025, the international exhibition and conference for printed electronics, in Munich, Germany. The competition is organised annually by the OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association), a working group within the VDMA.

The panel of judges, comprising experts from international companies and research institutions, assessed 20 submissions across three categories. In addition to the jury’s evaluation, LOPEC attendees had the opportunity to cast their votes. At the OE-A booth, where all demonstrators were showcased, visitors were invited to select their favourite innovation for the ‘Public Choice Award’.

"The OE-A Competition 2025 is particularly notable for its numerous applications in the smart living sector. We have increasingly seen projects that offer smart solutions for everyday life with a strong emphasis on sustainability," said Dr. Klaus Hecker, Managing Director of the OE-A.

Each year, the competition pushes the printed electronics industry to present its most innovative and forward-thinking developments.

The awards were officially handed over during the LOPEC Award Show to the following winners:

• Best Prototype and New Product

Health patch development platform

Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

• Best Freestyle Demonstrator

Fully additive manufactured light bulb

FAPS Institute for Factory Automation and Production Systems at the

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany 

• Best Publicly Funded Project

Hydrogen tanks shock and fatigue detection sensors

Piezotech Arkema, France

• Public Choice Award

Smart hard hat

CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Portugal

Save the date April 03 – Web-Seminar

Mark your calendar for the Web-Seminar ‘Printed Electronics Insights: OE-A Competition 2025 – The Winners’ on 3^rd April, 15:30pm CEST. The winners of each category will present their projects online to the community and all those who are interested in the further development of printed electronics.

Young entrepreneurs wanted for LOPEC Start-up Competition

As part of the LOPEC Business Conference, the OE-A supports emerging companies and startups through the Start-up Competition. “The goal of the Start-up Competition is to connect young entrepreneurs with potential partners and investors to help bring their business ideas to life. LOPEC provides these companies with the opportunity to pitch their ideas at the Forum and showcase their innovations in the dedicated Start-up area,” explains Dr. John Fahlteich, Chair of LOPEC Start-up Competition.

Two awards were presented:

LOPEC Start-up Competition 2024

Best Business Case

Adaptronics, Italy

Most Impactful Technology/Product

Prio Optics GmbH, Germany

As a special honour the two winners will each be provided with a startup stand package at LOPEC 2026.

Be part of the OE-A competition 2026

The OE-A Competition 2026 will be launched in June 2025. Competition entries will be displayed at the OE-A stand during the next LOPEC, 24-26^th February 2026 in Munich.