Are you a Small to Medium Sized Company? Are you expanding?
Get financing to develop and get your product to market at CPES2017
Growing companies must plug into the ecosystem of their industry to find the partners, the funding and commercialization resources they need to take market share and build on it.
That’s what we heard at our inaugural Sector Development Leadership Council on Nov. 22 in Toronto. We’ve already begun to evolve our programs in response to this.
Financing Panel on Day 3 of CPES2017 - May 26
We have added a third day to the CPES agenda this year for the express purpose of helping members connect with proven financing programs that have actually funded projects and companies in our industry. From seed, venture capital, equity, debt, lease, working capital financings and non-repayable financial contributions from government, our funding specialists will finance a wide range of operations.
We have also invited representatives from CPEIA member companies that have their own venture funding arms, such as Unilever and EMD Performance Materials.
Our financing panel will include:
- Business Development Bank of Canada - Canada’s only bank dedicated to supporting tech companies
- Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District
- the NRC-IRAP Program
- Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program experts OptiPrint, and
- Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
It’s a strong roster of public and private funding sources which our members can tap into, from tens of thousands of dollars, to the tens of millions. In fact, SDTC has already provided millions in funding to several CPEIA member companies, including OTI Lumionics, Cooledge Lighting and NanoXplore.
This is a tremendous opportunity for growth-oriented CPEIA member companies to make crucial contacts with funding partners and get introduced, all in the space of a few hours. Discuss your requirements and learn what funding sources your company may qualify for.
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Startups and Growth Companies: Mentoring begins March 1 for CPES2017 pitch sessions
Day 3 of CPES2017 on May 26 also features business plan pitch sessions for startup and growth-stage companies, to connect with mentors, secure financing and for startups have a shot at being chosen as our first Startup of the Year.
This is a first come, first served opportunity. We only have 10 spots available. Startups get to pitch their businesses to a qualified investor panel draw from funding organizations and strategic partners.
But first, you need a rock-solid business plan.
Through March and April, CPES Bronze Sponsor Keystep Growth & Finance and the Business Development Bank of Canada will mentor each startup company accepted for the business plan pitch session. Keystep has worked with dozens of startups and growing SMEs to help them secure necessary growth capital, up to $100 million. BDC finances hundreds of companies every year. Together they will be an awesome coaching team.
If you don’t have a business plan, or need help to refine an existing one, they will work with you, one-on-one. The mentoring sessions will also include polishing your presentation and determining if you are indeed ready to present on May 26. Take advantage of this opportunity to put your best foot forward.
Mentoring sessions with Keystep/BDC begin March 1. Don’t wait, submit your company for consideration now. Three of our 10 spots have already been taken, by Formi3D, nanoCNET and NGTronix.
Any startup and growth-stage company that has just brought or is about to bring a product to market and is under $5 million in revenues will be considered.
Then on May 26:
 The panel will provide the first line of feedback.- Participating startups will then be matched to industry mentors who can assist their continued evolution through quarterly mentoring sessions for up to one year or four meetings.
- The panel will choose our first CPES Startup of the Year from among the participating startups.
Visit the conference site to learn more about Day 3 of CPES2017. You can submit your current pitch to be one of our featured startups and also volunteer as one of our mentors. We hope to see you there.
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CPEIA and MEMBER NEWS
We have made it easy for you to submit your news to us for the News and Events sections of our website and this newsletter.
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Unilever Foundry
CPEIA Member company Unilever runs a Foundry program dedicated to innovation through collaboration. This is an opportunity for startups and innovators to engage, collaborate and explore business ideas with Unilever and its 400+ brands. Through the Foundry, startups can view and apply to address briefs from Unilever’s brands and functions, apply for business mentorship to get valued guidance and advice from across Unilever’s business, or register to attend events across the world.
Unilever also has a venture capital team. Unilever Ventures invests in opportunities that are of strategic relevance to Unilever, including digital marketing, digital media, and eCommerce. This could extend to smart packaging and smart retail solutions.
Visit the Unilever Foundry website to learn more. Let us know if you wish to connect with Unilever.
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Can Ontario’s Colleges Applied Research & Development Fund help you bring tech to market?
The Colleges Applied Research & Development Fund (CARDF) is a $20-million program by the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, in partnership with Colleges Ontario. The program aims to drive increased industry/post-secondary collaborations while creating an efficient marketplace for industry to access innovation, productivity and commercialization services from colleges; provide experiential learning opportunities for college students; and better align colleges with the needs of companies and strategic sectors, which will enable the development of new products, services and processes, facilitate productivity improvements, and help generate new revenues and high-value jobs for Ontario.
Intake for expressions of interest opened in January. To learn more visit OCE Ontario website
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R&D Magazine looking for printable electronics experts
The CPEIA recently briefed with Laura Panjwani, editor of R&D Magazine. She is looking for experts in the printable electronics industry and other related fields to contribute informative, engaging written content to the magazine’s website. R&D Magazine seeks industry professionals who are interested in educating the public on a novel idea or technology, discussing an interesting scientific concept or industry trend, or sharing their viewpoint on a challenge or triumph of their industry. If accepted, the article would be shared with its over 350,000 monthly readers, both on www.RDmag.com and in a twice-daily e-newsletter. Prospective authors should email Laura at laura.panjwani@advantagemedia.com prior to writing the article. Send her an email outlining:
- A suggested title or topic headline for the article
- A 200-word synopsis or outline of the story idea, indicating its significance and why it should be published on RDmag.com
- A brief biography of the author (and any co-authors), describing his/her training and expertise in the subject area (include name, title, affiliation and location)
- Any graphics, images, or illustrations available to support the article (not required)
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Our industry is hiring!
Our industry is growing and CPEIA Members are hiring. Build your dream team for printable, flexible, and wearable electronics. OPE Careers is a unique web portal to promote your career opportunities across North America and abroad.
You may have jobs posted on other sites, but only here can you get premier positioning and industry-specific exposure. For professionals and employers alike, the journey to connect talent with opportunity begins right here.
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Full-Stack Software Engineer
Myant - Ottawa, ON
System Validation Engineer
Intel - Vancouver, BC
Mechatronics Engineer
Smarter Alloys - Waterloo, ON
Electrical Hardware Design Engineer
Alizeti - Montréal, QC
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IoT - Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Future Electronics - Montréal, QC
Embedded Software Developer
Sober Steering Sensors Canada Inc. - Waterloo, ON
Software Developer
Sober Steering Sensors Canada Inc. - Waterloo, ON
Electronics Assembler
Thalmic Labs - Kitchener, ON
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QD Solar secures over $10M to develop solar energy technologies
QD Solar, a technology company created by MaRS Innovation and CPEIA member University of Toronto, has closed a $2.5-million Series A funding led by DSM Venturing, with matching investment participation from existing investors, MaRS innovation and KAUST Innovation Fund. The development of this technology is also supported by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (a $2.5-million grant), and the Ontario Research Fund.
The QD Solar product, an insert into conventional silicon solar panels based on QD Solar’s world leading quantum dot technology, captures currently wasted infrared energy. This has the potential to increase the energy output of solar panels by 20 per cent, and therefore lead to significant cost savings.
Read the full announcement.
QD Solar and the University of Toronto will both be presenting at our organic photovoltaics workshop, March 7 in Toronto.
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CPEIA speaking at March 15 meeting of AFELIM
The CPEIA will attend and exhibit at AFELIM's annual conference and meeting, March 15 in Paris. CPEIA President and CEO Peter Kallai has been invited to speak.
AFELIM is France’s printed and organic electronics industry association. Its mission is to create a network of members of different trades in the market for PE, exchange on the issues of the profession, enhance the value chain, create a strong link between R&D and production, disseminate market information, open access to major research programs, and represent the profession and its members at industry events and to European and global bodies.
AFELIM President Michel Popovic is confirmed as a keynote at our conference, CPES2017, in May.
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Register for our March 7 organic photovoltaics (OPV) workshop
The CPEIA and the National Research Council of Canada are inviting anyone interested in organic photovoltaics to attend their joint full-day workshop in Toronto on March 7.
The event is hosted and sponsored by CSA Group and will take place at its Toronto facilities at 178 Rexdale Blvd. Canada’s top industrial companies and academic research teams will present and discuss their development and commercialization efforts. We will explore the state of this industry and its core technologies, and the level of technical capability and commercial activity in Canada.
Researchers and technology and industrial companies interested in OPV are invited to attend the workshop.
Keynote featuring Merck’s Dr. Nicolas Blouin
 Our keynote will feature Dr. Nicolas Blouin, Head of Photovoltaic Chemistry at Merck KGaA of Germany. He will discuss Merck’s efforts to accelerate commercialization of OPV products by focusing on the formulation of active materials for industrial coating and mass-production of OPV modules.
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 CABA Intelligent Buildings & Digital Home Forum, April 26-28
This year's CABA Forum will be co-located with CABA Board Member Intel Corporation at its campus in Santa Clara, CA.
The CABA Forum brings together leading organizations involved in the integration of intelligent building systems and connected home technologies. CABA estimates that over 200 key stakeholders and industry leaders will gather to discuss current trends in the intelligent buildings and connected home sectors.
CPEIA has been invited to present a workshop at this event on Printable and Flexible Electronics-Based Solutions for Connected Homes and Intelligent Buildings. If you plan to attend and/or want to be part of the presentation team, please contact Peter Kallai at pkallai@cpeia-acei.ca or 613-795-8181.
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IEEE 30th Annual CCECE conference, April 30 to May 3, Windsor
IEEE’s Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (IEEE 2017 CCECE) is the flagship Canadian conference for researchers, students, and professionals in the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering. It is held annually in a Canadian city to disseminate research advancements and discoveries, network and exchange ideas, strengthen existing partnerships, and foster new collaborations. IEEE 2017 CCECE’s general theme “Two Great Nations Innovate the Technology” reflects the close direct impact of ECE research on industrialization and the position of Windsor as a U.S. border city.
Visit the CCECE site for more information on the conference and speaking submissions.
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 CPES2017, May 24-26 in Toronto: Early bird rate ends March 3
Don’t wait. Register today for CPES2017, Canada’s premier conference and trade show exhibition for printable, flexible and wearable electronics (PE).
Some sponsorship opportunities and tabletop exhibit spaces are still available. We are also seeking posters from the academic community. Learn more on the CPES2017 website.
CPES2017 is the place for technology developers, industrial companies and end-users to meet and discuss how they can work together to commercialize new products and applications for printable, flexible and wearable electronics. Academic researchers can discover how they can link their research to market needs and opportunities. We expect over 100 organizations and 200 attendees, with industry-leading speakers and keynotes from around the world.
The conference focuses on markets such as Intelligent Packaging, Intelligent Buildings, Aerospace and Defence, Automotive and Industrial Applications, Health and Wellness, Intelligent Documents, and Consumer Electronics and Wearables.
And don’t forget about our optional Day 3 activities, new this year. Attend Master Classes on various technical subjects, or take part in our Startup Mentoring and Financing Panel.
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