Thinfilm, Soligie to develop printed memory technology

By Colleen Taylor, Contributing Editor -- Electronic News, 4/12/2007

Minnesota-based integrated printed electronics maker Soligie Inc. and Oslo, Norway-based non-volatile polymer memory specialist Thinfilm Electronics ASA have entered into an agreement to jointly develop processes for producing printed memory in commercial volumes.

The joint development agreement will build on Thinfilm's IP for soluble memory materials, and Soligie's IP for printing functional materials. Also in the agreement, Soligie said it has been granted an option to acquire certain production and commercialization rights to Thinfilm's memory technology under a patent and know how license agreement.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The collaboration with Soligie will open exciting new opportunities for the printed electronics industry by enabling a programmable memory feature into products such as smart labels, smart packaging, game cards, smart cards, toys and RFID tags," Johan Carlsson, CEO of Thinfilm, said in a statement.

This is the second such deal that Thinfilm has inked in recent weeks as it moves deeper into the printed electronics realm. Earlier this month, the company announced it is working with U.K.-based Xaar to develop an industrial inkjet printing processes capable of producing printed memory devices in volumes sufficient for commercial applications.