Concept
The European market for printed, flexible, and organic electronics (PFOE) is experiencing rapid growth (expected to increase from €37.8 billion in 2020 to €68 billion in 2030), accompanied by continuous introduction of new technological developments. However, this rapid technological and commercial
progress is not being matched by a parallel development in the training of professionals, resulting in serious difficulties for the sector to find qualified workers.
This gap increases in the case of vocational education between EQF 3-5 and up-skilling and reskilling of companies employees in comparison with tertiary or university education that it is possible to find currently some Masters Degree focus on flexible electronics. Additionally, due to the high degree of innovation within the sector, there is a lack of adequately developed professors, trainers, curricula, and credentials to bridge the sector’s gap, in addition to the aforementioned challenges.
In this context, the INFINITE project aims to achieve vocational excellence in digital printing, flexible, and organic electronics, thereby providing a solution to the difficulties experienced. The INFINITE concept is based on three fundamental pillars: 1) teaching and learning, 2) cooperation and partnership, and 3) governance and funding. The following figure depicts a graphical representation of this concept and its related activities.
How are the different activities of the project addressed?
The INFINITE workplan is structured in 7 work packages. Each one has its work package leader and is further structured into tasks, with its corresponding task leaders. The work package and task leaders will ensure the quality and alignment of the activities performed at task and work package level with the objectives of the project at all times.
The structure has been designed considering the interactive linkage between the WPs of the projects and the activities show in Figure 7. WP2,3 and 4 are linked with “Teaching and Learning Cluster”, WP5 is linked with “Cooperation and Partnership Cluster” and WP6 with “Governance and Funding Cluster”. At the centre there is WP2, which contains the identification of the current and future skills demanded by the local and international industry. Once the latter are determined and analysed, the results from WP2 will feed into WP3. Since the information collected in WP2 is subject to change, it will remain open during the duration of the project, to adjust to this changes and forward relevant feedback to the consecutive WP3.
The results obtained in WP3 is used to develop new, innovative materials and methodologies for both trainers and trainees. In WP4 the work performed in WP2, 3 as well as input from WP5 are put into practice (implemented). The relevant information from WP4 is transferred to WP6 for the development of its activities. Around the mentioned WPs, there are the transversal WP1 and 7, which are active at all time. WP1 representing the node between all WPs and WP7 disseminating as well as assessing the impact of the projects results. This concept design paves the way towards a coherent and comprehensive set of appropriate activities and services to meet the identified needs and lead to the expected results.
