July 2017

APAC / July 2017 5 NEWS , The flexible elec- tronics (FE) indus- try is currently in a growth phase. Keen research and devel- opment activities, coupled with advanced material development, are propelling the creation of di- verse enabled technologies. The convergence of such technolo- gies will enable FE manufactur- ing and revolutionise the semi- conductor industry. Stakeholder efforts to address manufacturing challenges, such as refining tech- niques, scalability, high costs, and establishing industry standards across the value chain, will quick- en adoption. “FE technology is instrumental in the development of next-genera- tion electronic devices. High func- tionality and flexibility are neces- sary in futuristic devices, where miniaturisation is driving devel- opments,” noted Frost & Sullivan TechVision senior research Ana- lyst Jabez Mendelson. “Potential future applications for FE include integrated photovoltaic, smart wearables, biomedical devices, displays, lighting, and military equipment.” Manufacturing Innovations for Flexible Electronics is part of Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision (Microelectronics) Growth Part- nership Subscription. This study presents a detailed picture of the trends, disruptive forces, patents, funding, research and development initiatives, innova- tions and competitive structures of flexible electronics technolo- gies in Asia-Pacific (APAC), North America (NA) and European Un- ion (EU). The insights will enable players to align themselves with the market trends and be early adopters of novel technologies. From a regional perspective, cur- rent developments in FE include: • Active patenting of innova- tions in APAC and NA; The tourism-de- mand assessment will measure the size, travel patterns, and economic value of current tourist arrivals in the country. It will assess the effec- tiveness of existing marketing activities and, crucially, project volumes and value of potential arrivals, with specific emphasis on high-spending niche markets. The projections will guide govern- ment and private sector invest- ments in tourism-related infra- structure, products, and services. “The research will provide recom- mendations to the government to help it match tourism investment, development, and marketing to target markets,” said Tom Jacobs, IFC’s regional manager for the Pacific. “Finding out what drives people to visit PNG and what is needed to bring more tourists— be it bird watchers, adventure seekers, or those attending cul- tural shows—will help grow ex- isting holiday arrivals and create new markets in the future.” In addition to national-level scop- ing, the study will provide specific market research and recommen- dations for East New Britain and Milne Bay. Euromonitor Interna- tional Limited has been contract- ed to conduct the research over the next five months. The study will incorporate in-depth inter- views with source-market and in-country stakeholders. “PNG offers a diverse and unique visitor experience, with world- class diving, surfing, vast flora and fauna, rich cultural experienc- es, major walking tracks, as well as World War-II historical sites,” said Jerry Agus, Chief Executive Officer of the PNG Tourism Pro- motion Authority. “This report will build the case for necessary in- vestment to grow niche markets that visit these attractions, lead- ing to more jobs and opportunity for Papua New Guineans since tourism is deeply rooted in the communities.” In 2016, Papua New Guinea wel- comed nearly 200,000 internation- al visitors with 29 percent of those traveling for a holiday, including by air and cruise ships. PNG cruise tourism has grown quickly over the past few years and now contributes an estimated addition- al 20,000 to 30,000 tourists per year. The addition of ports of call in Milne Bay and East New Britain has bolstered this potential. For more details, please visit www.ifc.org IFC-Led Research to Inform Future Tourism Development in Papua New Guinea Addressingmanufacturing challenges like refining techniques, scalability, and high costs will multiply growth opportunities, finds Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision team. IFC, amember of theWorld Bank Group, has partnered with the TourismPromotion Authority (TPA) of Papua NewGuinea (PNG) to undertake market research that will help the government develop tourismand realise the sector’s potential over the next ten years. N • A focus on flexible display and lighting segments in APAC; • Development of scalable manufacturing technologies for commercialisation in NA; • Major funding from the Unit- ed States government for researching advanced manu- facturing innovations and FE; • European Commission sup- port for an array of consor- tiums with the intention of establishing FE manufactur- ing competencies in the EU region and; • Flexible photovoltaic and sensor application-based fo- cus in EU. “Smart textiles are expected to be early adopters of advance- ments in FE. Highly bendable sensors can be mounted on pol- ymer-based flexible substrate and be woven into or embedded in fabric. Such smart fabrics can enhance aesthetic appeal or pro- vide performance enhancements in sports management,” observed Frost & Sullivan TechVision re- search analyst, Varun Babu. View a summary of our TechVi- sion program by clicking on the following link: http://ifrost.frost. com/TechVision_Demo