BEWELL project is about developing integration and manufacturing technologies needed for smart skin patch and wrist-device wearable electronics sensing and actuating products. BEWELL project is also about demonstrating three different application use cases. Wearable electronics belongs to new age consumer electronics together with smartphones, gaming consoles and laptop/tablet computers. Key development focuses of the new devices are better human-machine interfaces, improved connectivity, user-friendly form factors and convenience of use. Internet of things, connected living, quantified self and smart homes are identified as the driving trends of this evolution among which especially the quantified self is clearly driving the wearable electronics. Inside wearable electronics, wrist-worn devices have been the largest segment but body-worn and head-worn devices are expected to grow to similar sized segments. Intimate skin contact is necessary for reliable sensing and actuation based on sensor results during different levels of activity of the users. Controllable skin contact would be a further improvement in sensing applications. The purpose can be to replace or supplement visual messaging. Therefore, skin patches and associated technologies to enhance the user-device interface also in other types of products such as the wrist-worn ones are of special importance. In BEWELL, we have identified commercially relevant future skin-patch products to be demonstrated. We have also identified a set of critical and versatile technologies that need to be developed for scalable manufacturing and integrated to realize these future products. In particular, the BEWELL project aims to unleash the potential of flexible and wearable electronics for physical and emotional wellbeing by advanced integrated technology components made in Europe.

LEE-BED brings together world leading European RTOs to establish an Open Innovation Test Bed to de-risk and accelerate the development and manufacturing of nanomaterials and lightweight embedded electronics for the benefit of European industry. Access to such a Test Bed will help establish the industrial eco-systems, R&D investments and new supply chains to support market entry as well as providing a global competitive advantage, leading to growth and job creation. For Europe to be more competitive compared to the US and Asia, digitalisation of both the development and manufacturing of functional nanomaterials and printed components needs to be established, as well as addressing cost, productivity and capacity. The digitalisation of the European production industry (industry 4.0) through digital based production technologies, such as ink-jet printing, additive manufacturing, robotically assisted in-mould labelling, laser processing, stereo lithography, etc., requires functional nanomaterials and formulations and is a major bottleneck due to high prices and limited volume production. LEE-BED will address these challenges by building European infrastructure for rapid development and pilot production of nanomaterial, inks, adhesives and composites as well as digital based pilot production lines. LEE-BED will unify the entire value chain from raw materials to embedded electrical components, providing tailored solutions for European entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs and large enterprises, with the main objective of going from concept to prototype within six months. Unique to LEE-BED will be the development of tailored services, including technical, business, patent mapping, safety and life-cycle analysis modelling. LEE-BED will also provide funding services for LEE-BED access to SMEs and post-project capital. LEE-BED will guide European industry towards sustainable implementation of innovative technologies, making them stronger and more globally competitive.