Purdue SMART

Purdue University’s SMART Films Consortium is comprised of interdisciplinary researchers, collaborating with industry leaders, who are dedicated to answering one unifying question: How can Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technology become so affordable it can be produced at mass volumes and deployed over large areas?

We believe the solution to this challenge is hybrid printed IoT devices. Non-silicon sensors are low-cost, disposable, biocompatible and flexible, but can also provide coverage over large areas and be integrated with standard silicon for communication and networking – creating a hybrid printed IoT system. Consequently, non-silicon and silicon sensors, integrated as a hybrid IoT system, could transform numerous industries – from agriculture, manufacturing, sports, healthcare and emergency response to food packaging, infrastructure, and sensor networking.

Vision

The SMART Film Consortium’s long-term vision is to develop the first foundry dedicated to non-silicon sensors. A foundry is a shared manufacturing facility, which were vital to the rapid growth of Silicon Valley. We envision a foundry dedicated to supporting the fast development of low-cost, high-volume non-silicon sensors – generating faster product development pilot runs and lower cost per unit – making innovation much more accessible and affordable.