Plan for an International Study of
Hybrid Flexible Electronics
Duane Shelton
August 27, 2008
A hybrid flexible camera system that is a
big step toward a bionic eye—from Illinois
"We believe that some of the most compelling areas of future application
involve the intimate, conformal integration of electronics with the human body,
in ways that are inconceivable using established technologies." "This approach
allows us to put electronics in places where we couldn't before. We can now,
for the first time, move device design beyond the flatland constraints of
conventional systems." John Rogers, Nature, August 7, 2008
An E-skin for robots -- from Japan
Researchers have developed a rubber that is able to conduct electricity well, paving the way
for robots with stretchable "e-skin" that can feel heat and pressure like humans.. "Objects that
come into contact with humans are often not square or flat. We believe interfaces between
humans and electronics should be soft." Takao Someya, University of Tokyo, in Science August
7, 2008
World Technology Evaluation Center, Inc.
WTEC mission
Inform U.S. agencies, universities, and
research community of science and
technology abroad in critical fields
Baltimore, College Park, Lancaster, Johnstown, Arlington.
Acknowledgements
…and over 400 expert panelists, thousands of foreign hosts
Why conduct international assessments?
 Guide U. S. R&D investments
 Look for good ideas abroad (tech
transfer)
 Find opportunities for cooperation
 Compare U.S. status with that abroad
 Justify investment in R&D. Pointing
with alarm is an example
Why point with alarm?
 Research and education are changing
rapidly abroad
 Greatly increased investments are
producing substantial outputs—we can
learn from abroad
 Further, since we care about U.S.
leadership of engineering, we need more
resources to compete
 Pointing with alarm can be a powerful
motivator, e.g. Rising Above the Gathering
Storm report—next a Chinese case study
Chinese research output
•Each year PRC increases R&D by 19% (US 3%)
•Shelton model ties this input to scientific paper output
Paper Share (Forecast After 2005)
35.0
30.0
25.0
US
20.0
EU27
15.0
PRC
10.0
5.0
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
0.0
2000
Percent of OECDgroup
40.0
WTEC past and present:
over 60 studies since 1989
 Brain-Computer Interfaces (TATRC, NSF,
NIBIB, NINDS, 2 foundations)
 Catalysis by Nanostructured Materials (NSF,
DOE, AFOSR, DTRA)
 Simulation-Based Engineering & Science (24
programs at 4 agencies)
 WTEC also staffs the NNCO and provides
workshops and IT support
WTEC future
 Continue onsite research support at
NNCO
 Plan Government-wide initiative on
simulation-based engineering & science
 International study on stem cells for
tissue engineering
 International study of hybrid flexible
electronics
WTEC methods
 Write grant proposals that can pass peer
review*
 Establish a coalition of sponsors who have
resources to make it happen
 Recruit a great panel from Government
nominations*
 Conduct the study effectively; Government
participates in decisions—like where to go*
 Maintain good host relations, so we can
return in future studies
 Publish an outstanding report*
* More in appendix
From Draft Statement of Work
 What is the position of foreign R&D
relative to the U.S.?
 What are the barriers in development
that can be learned abroad?
 What are the innovations and ideas
that are worth exploring in the U.S.?
 What are the opportunities for
international collaboration?
Proposed timeline for study
Nov. 08
Kick-Off Meeting (All Panelists, Sponsors)
Jan. 09
U.S. Baseline Workshop (Optional)
Feb. 09
Site Visits Asia (First Priority?)
Mar. 09
Site Visits Europe (Optional)
Apr. 09
Final workshop at NSF
Jul. 09
Final report draft
Sponsorship Benefits:
International Assessment Study
 Leverage of full study for approximate price
of a workshop
 Advances interagency cooperation
 Recognition in report and website
 Advance review of report
 Ideas for initiatives and cooperation
 Find out what your counterparts abroad are
up to
Basic International Assessment Study;
Options Later
 5-person panel of U.S. experts
 Kickoff meeting with panel and sponsors
 Study 15 to 20 sites in one week (either in
Europe or Asia).
 Workshop to present findings to
professional community
 Written report: Introduction, Exec
Summary plus 4 technical chapters,
appendix has site report for each site.
Options Added to Basic Study
 Additional study tour week in second
region: Europe or Asia
 U.S. baseline workshop
 More bibliometric study
 More panelists for broader scope
 Book by major publisher
Distinguished panelists
 NSF Director (Colwell)
 Directors of DOE Office of Science (Trivelpiece,
Dresselhaus)
 Chief of Naval Research (Mooney)
 Director of NIGMS (Cassman)
 Chief Scientist of the USAF (Feigenbaum)
 Vice presidents for research of IBM, Bell Labs,
Seagate Technology
 Presidents or provosts of UC (Berkeley, San Diego
and UC system) and Rensselaer
 Over 400 other engineers and scientists
WTEC senior staff experience
 Duane Shelton (Universities, NSF,
U.S. House)
 Mike DeHaemer (Captain USN (ret.)
skipper of SSBN, Universities)
 Dave Nelson (ex-Director of NITRD,
the Government-wide IT initiative)
 Geoff Holdridge (NRC, NSF, staff
director of NNCO)
NSF/WTEC “umbrella” grants
Grant
Amount
WTEC1
(2001)
WTEC2
(2004)
WTEC3
(2007)
$3.7 million
International
Studies
7
$5.3 million
7
$1.8 million
3 Underway
•At Loyola there were six such peer-reviewed grants.
•WTEC is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute.
•Grants include other tasks, especially workshops and
NNCO support
Impacts: support of initiatives
 DARPA Flat Panel Displays Initiative
 DOD/DOC Electronic Packaging
Initiative
 NTSC Electronics Manufacturing
Initiative
 National Nanotechnology Initiative
 Benign Manufacturing MUSES Program
 Spin Electronics Program
Announcement
 Tissue Engineering Strategic Plan
Conducting a study efficiently
 Staff experience means that most
problems can be avoided based on
precedent
 WTEC locations mean:
 Low overhead (29%)
 Affordable salary scale
 Close enough to meet in Washington
area
Advance work / host review
 Cultivating good relations with hosts is
critical
 Some hosts are resistant, but WTEC is well
known abroad
 NSF image helps greatly in obtaining access
 Advance work is expensive, but makes the
study tour more effective
 Hosts review site and final reports
Report editing
 Our reports are of academic quality with
full citations, etc.
 Analytical chapters written by experts
Site reports are merely an appendix
 They are edited several times
 We always have to extract chapters
from holdouts
 Published in 9 books; we now have an
international technology series with
Springer with 3 published, 1 in press
Preliminary Bibliometrics
SCI Papers in Hybrid Electronics and Related Fields
200
180
160
140
120
World
100
US
EU27
80
60
40
20
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007