The world has a problem with plastic waste. Despite global plastic production continuing to accelerate, recycling rates remain stubbornly low, with only about 15% of the 400 million tonnes of plastic currently produced annually being recycled.

When considering the prospects of an emerging technology, it is easy to make broad-brush claims. For example, stating that 'greater numbers of connected devices, commonly referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), will increase demand for printed sensors' seems an uncontroversial statement.

Genetically modified (GM) crops are unpopular. Despite their vast potential to help improve global food security while reducing pesticide use, many countries are extremely resistant to planting GM crops, with 85% of global GM agricultural land coming from just four countries: the US, Brazil, Argentina and Canada.

​A detailed list of over 60 different application areas which e-textile products have been developed for; Market data around current market size by product type and market sector; Overview of project/product maturity by application area; and Discussion of the best strategies and market forecasts for the sector into the next decade.

There are huge materials opportunities in emerging photovoltaics. Hear Dr Peter Harrop discuss the topic in this short presentation (9mins in length) sharing research from the new IDTechEx report, "Materials Opportunities in Emerging Photovoltaics 2020-2040". IDTechEx #IDTechExResearch #Photovoltaics #AdvancedMaterials #Solar #ElectricVehicles #PVMaterials #Perovskite

While the COVID-19 outbreak continues to rise in some countries, many others have successfully brought down the number of daily new cases and reproduction number. European countries have loosened the general lockdown, such as Germany, Spain, and UK. Gone together with the quarantine are the huge daily COVID-19 testing numbers.

Robotics, automotive, energy and healthcare. Interview with Dr Peter Harrop on his new report: Sensors 2021-2041

Learn about electronics as smart materials bypassing the traditional industry.

In July 2020, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology announced a standardised UK system for detecting coronavirus in wastewater, to provide an early warning of future outbreaks, reducing the reliance of testing large populations.

IDTechEx reports that the robotic surgery market will reach over $12 billion by 2030. Within this industry catheter navigation is an emerging, but lesser known application, that is rapidly gaining traction. IDTechEx's findings are detailed in the recently published report "Innovations in Robotic Surgery 2020-2030: Technologies, Players & Markets".

Last week, Apple announced the latest features that will be added to the Apple Watch in watchOS 7. Amongst the range of updates were a series of new health app features, including new "mobility metrics" such as low-range cardio fitness, walking speed, stair-descent speed, stair-ascent speed, six-minute walk distance, double support time, step length, and asymmetry.

The conductive ink market is diverse. This is shown in the schematic below, showing the commercialization status of diverse spectrum applications. This diversity is both a blessing and a curse.

In this webinar, Technology Analyst Dr Michael Dent will present an overview of IDTechEx's recent research into the crop biotechnology industry, focusing on the potential of genome editing to revolutionise the field.

Which Is Better for the Environment? In recent years, plastic production has accelerated, with global plastic set production to reach 600 million tonnes by 2030 if production continues at its current rate of growth. Most of this plastic is not biodegradable, with 30-50% of it being produced for single-use applications.

In the next decade, digital water technologies will be the next big innovation. With an industry predicted to be over $2Bn in 2030, this is a wide-reaching opportunity for many and a market which has a global impact.

Humans have been manipulating the DNA of the organisms around us in agriculture for thousands of years, using selective breeding to create sweeter fruit, hardier grains, cows that produce more milk, and many more valuable traits.

A recent article by IDTechEx Principal Analyst, James Hayward, written on the need to update e-textiles' traditional mantra which implies that "technology + comfort = success".

2019 saw the largest single year growth rate for wearable technology product revenue since 2015

In this webinar, IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Dr Nadia Tsao will review the branches of digital health and provide updates on how they have been affected by COVID-19.

In this webinar IDTechEx Chairman, Dr Peter Harrop, describes a large new opportunity for added value materials suppliers. Electronics and electrics are moving from components-in-a-box to user "edit-able" composites, stretchable film and even paint.