Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Kovio Achieves Printed Electronics Milestone with World’s First All-printed High-performance Silicon Thin-film Transistor

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Abstract:
Company is Building Intelligence into Everyday Things

Kovio Achieves Printed Electronics Milestone with World’s First All-printed High-performance Silicon Thin-film Transistor

SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Posted on November 13th, 2007

Kovio, Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company, today introduced the world's first all-printed high-performance silicon thin-film transistor (TFT), the key building block that will enable the integration of electronics into everyday things. Kovio has demonstrated low-cost all-printed silicon TFTs with mobility of 80cm2/Vs, which significantly exceeds the performance of previously reported all-printed TFTs using either organic or inorganic semiconductors.

This announcement was made during the company's first public address at IDTechEx Printed Electronics USA 2007 on November 13, 2007.

Based on breakthroughs in nanotechnology and materials science, Kovio has developed the electronic equivalents of color inks for graphics printing. These functional electronic inks include silicon, doped silicon, metals, and insulators. Combining functional electronic inks with high-resolution graphics printing technologies, Kovio has printed high-performance silicon TFTs at a fraction of the cost of conventional lithography-based silicon technology. The significantly lower cost is possible as a result of additive digital printing processes, lower capital expenditures and faster cycle time. Furthermore, Kovio's technology is particularly attractive from an environmental and energy consumption standpoint.

The initial target application includes low-cost RFID for item-level tagging. This innovation significantly reduces the cost of item-level tagging required for meaningful adoption in various markets, including retail, consumer products, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation.

To accelerate the commercialization of its technology, Kovio also announced that it has signed two separate joint development and supply agreements with Toppan Forms Co. Ltd., a world leader in printing businesses, printable electronics and digital information technologies, and Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Cubic Corporation, the world's leading turnkey solution provider of automated fare collection systems for public transport.

"This breakthrough in printed high-performance silicon transistor technology provides our organization with promising new business opportunities as we strive to become an integrated information management service company," commented Masanori Akiyama, president and CEO of Toppan Forms. "By combining our capabilities with Kovio, intelligence can be built into everyday items, enabling the integration of pervasive networked devices for information collection and distribution, a key requirement for the advent of the ubiquitous society. We are pleased to partner with Kovio to accelerate the commercialization of this breakthrough technology to the marketplace."

"With Kovio's all-printed silicon-based TFT technology, we believe we can continue to pioneer new levels of convenience and reliability for public transit riders, while further reducing the cost associated with fare collection, such as reducing the cost of limited-use smart cards for our transit agency customers," said Walt Bonneau Jr., senior vice president and general manager of Cubic Corporation. "We're committed to building upon our history of successful performance in the deploying of agency and regional transit smart card fare collection systems in the United States, in addition to many other projects worldwide."

"By combining the enabling performance of silicon with the cost structure of printing, Kovio offers a true extension to item-level tagging that the current silicon industry can't achieve," said Amir Mashkoori, CEO and chairman of Kovio. "We're solving the fundamental issues that have limited the industry's penetration into existing potentially explosive markets while opening up market opportunities that weren't previously possible and bringing intelligence into everyday things."

Kovio expects to start shipment of products by the end of 2008.

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About Kovio, Inc.
Kovio Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company, is developing a new category of semiconductor products using printed silicon electronics and thin-film technology. Kovio’s approach delivers a unique and compelling value proposition in multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, manufacturing and energy. For more information on Kovio, please visit http://www.kovio.com .

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation was established in 1951 and is the parent of two major businesses: Cubic Transportation Systems and Cubic Defense Applications. Cubic Transportation Systems is a world leading full-service systems provider of automated fare collection systems for public transport including bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, ferry and parking.

Every year, nearly 10 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic fare collection systems. Cubic Transportation Systems has delivered over 400 automated fare collection projects in 40 major markets on five continents, and offers security solutions developed specifically for public transportation infrastructure. The Cubic Defense Applications group is a world leader in realistic combat training systems, mission support services and defense electronics.

Cubic Transportation Systems is the proud recipient of the Frost & Sullivan 2006 Industry Innovation & Advancement of the Year Award. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.cubic.com .

About Toppan Forms

Toppan Forms Co., Ltd., was established in 1955 as a pioneer in the business forms industry in Japan. Since that time, the company has grown into a leader in the field of Data Print Services and information management services. The company offers a broad spectrum of digital and multimedia products and services. To continue the company’s transformation from paper-based business forms into an integrated information management services, Toppan Forms has developed and invested some key enabling technologies in IT-related fields. The company will continue to stay one step ahead of industry needs with its products and services, opening the way to the future. For more information on Toppan Forms Co., Ltd., visit http://www.toppan-f.co.jp/ .