Blue Spark And Novalia Partner To Design And Develop Creative, High Value, Interactive Printed Electronics Products

Blue Spark Technologies, the leading supplier of thin, flexible printed battery solutions, and Novalia, a leading designer of printed electronics products, recently signed a joint marketing agreement to drive the creation and launch of innovative "Interactive Printed Media" products for the publishing, consumer, packaging, retail and other markets.

Novalia's Interactive Printed Media (IPM) vision is based on existing printed electronics technologies. Technologies include programmable chips (ICs) and conductive inks, used along with traditional graphic inks, and thin, flexible "green" batteries as a primary power source. Printed electronics, by design, can easily and affordably be integrated into standard manufacturing processes and printed using traditional print processes, such as screen, offset, gravure and flexography.

Peter Kuzma, Vice President of Business Development for Blue Spark Technologies, commenting on the new partnership, notes. "Novalia has emerged as a leader and pioneer in interactive printed electronics technology. We at Blue Spark look forward to an exciting and productive marketing partnership that effectively leverages Novalia's design creativity and printed media expertise with Blue Spark's extensive experience in engineering, battery-powered electronic design, prototyping and product testing."

Dr. Kate Stone, CEO of Novalia notes: "In our world, virtually any printed item can be made interactive, which is why we believe the market potential for Interactive Printed Media is enormous. Novalia strives to provide customers with creative designs and compelling applications to help them launch high value interactive products that are inviting and engaging for end users. Blue Spark's disposable printed batteries provide the ideal power source to activate many of these products."

Novalia has developed a compact, self-contained printed electronics control module consisting of a power source, integrated circuit for I/O control and interaction flow, and a sound transducer. The integration of the module and conductive inks enables the printed item to communicate and interact with the end user (consumer) through the senses of touch, sight and sound. The specific nature of that interaction will depend on the programming of the chip.

Blue Spark and Novalia's co-development of Interactive Printed Media products will focus initially on items such as:

• Children's books
• Posters for kids and adults
• Trading cards, novelty games and toys
• Specialty consumer packaging
• In-store retail merchandising displays
• Promotional brochures
• And potentially other "green" printed electronics products built on a thin, flexible form factor and easily manufactured using traditional printing methods

As part of their agreement, Blue Spark and Novalia are performing customer specific seminars on the role interactive printed media can have in increasing sales and driving brand awareness across a number of consumer and industrial related industries. IDTechEx predicts the electronic packaging segment of this market alone, to reach $7.7 billion by 2010.

About Blue Spark Technologies

Blue Spark Technologies, Inc. is the leader in developing flexible, printed, "green," proprietary power source solutions for battery-powered printed electronic systems. The company was founded as Thin Battery Technologies in 2002 with patented technology and technical leadership from Energizer (Eveready Battery Company). Blue Spark customers include manufacturers, product designers, and integrators across multiple industries including: interactive packaging, RFID, pharmaceutical, powered smart cards, and novelty items. Users of products powered by Blue Spark batteries enjoy increased efficiency, greater convenience and portability, improved safety, lower manufacturing and assembly costs, higher profit margins, and greater environmental responsibility. For more information, visit www.bluesparktechnologies.com.

About Novalia

Founded in 2004, Novalia is a pioneer and leader in the interactive printed electronics industry. Located in Cambridge Science Park in the UK, Novalia specializes in the art and science of "Interactive Printed Media" (IPM) - helping customers envision, create and market innovative products that are informative, fun and engaging. Novalia's unique vision, printed electronics expertise, patent pending technology and strong network of partnerships helped the firm secure funding from venture capital firm Solon Ventures. Novalia works with clients at every phase of IPM product development, from proof of concept and design for manufacturability, right through to prototyping and full-scale production. For more information, visit www.novalia.co.uk.

SOURCE: Blue Spark Technologies