Electronics innovation wins Global Innovation Award

A plastic-enclosed electronics manufacturing system developed at Griffith University has won a Global Innovation Award. 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 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, DC. The event 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.” Neeli said this will significantly alleviate the worldwide 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,” Neeli said.

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