Conductive Inks & Pastes: Markets, Technologies, Trends


Vital business intelligence covering forecasts, players, case studies, opportunities and technology and market assessment

This forum focusses on the options and applications for conductive inks and pastes, and how they are printed. The conductive ink and paste business is one of the largest in printed electronics space, but also one which has seen significant change in recent years.

The market leadership in traditional volume markets has changed hands with previously low-cost low-quality suppliers rising to the top. The paste manufacturers are now all in search of new emerging markets in the hope that future growth in some will compensate for the decline or the loss of market share in the traditional sectors. Consequently, most paste makers have hugely diversified their product offerings addressing a diverse array of nascent markets each with a different set of technology and market challenges/opportunities.

What you will learn?

In our masterclass we will cover the main existing and emerging conductive ink and paste technologies such as firing-type pastes and PTF, nanoparticle inks and silver substitutes such as copper and silver-coated copper.

In addition, we will explore the progress, requirements and challenges for applications such as solar cells, touch screen edge electrodes, printed sensors, electronic textile, 3D-shaped antennas, on-chip EMI shielding, in-mould electronics, electronic textiles, automotive, RFID tags, ITO replacement, OLED lighting, desktop printers, printed TFTs, and so on.

How the inks and deposited will be covered in addition to the curing/sintering options. This forum will provide deep depth including significant market data to allow you to understand these complex landscapes. Attendees will leave with a clear, quantified view of the markets, technology assessment, key players and their strategy for market adoption, with lessons from success and failures.

This forum can be attended on its own or in addition to the other sessions, which are complementary in subject matter. A discount is available for booking multiple sessions.

For those attending.

  • The PDF files of the presentations will be available to download from this website after the sessions are ended.
  • All Insight Forums will be conducted in English


Register for the Forum

Exhibitor Opportunities

Report Package

Forum 1 / Agenda

4 December / Morning

Please join IDTechEx Analysts for lunch and networking from 13:00-14:00


  • 8:30 - 9:00
  • Registration
  • 9:00 - 9:10
  • Attendee introductions and business card exchange
  • 09:10 - 09:45

Introduction to Printed Electronics for Printed Conductive Inks

Compiled by Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx

  • Introduction to printed electronics
  • Total market size in 2018 by component type, including conductive inks
  • Case studies of past successes
  • Value chain and trends by territory
  • Brief update on printed displays, lighting, sensors, batteries, energy harvesting and logic
  • 09:45 - 10:15

Conductive Inks and Pastes: Technologies

Compiled by Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Research Director, IDTechEx

  • Assessment of types of silver conductive inks, with key players and technology assessments for each:
    • Firing-type pastes
    • Polymer Thick Films (PTF)
    • Nano particles inks
  • Copper and silver coated copper: the latest progress
  • Conductive polymers
  • 10:15 - 10:45

Conductive Inks and Pastes: Mature Applications

Compiled by Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Research Director, IDTechEx

    For the following applications, IDTechEx will assess the market size (2018 and beyond) for conductive ink, growth, requirements for conductive ink, how that is changing or could change, key providers and trends:
  • PV
  • Touch sensor electrodes
  • Transparent Conductive Films
  • Heating elements and other automotive
  • 10:45 - 11:10
  • Networking break
  • 11:10 - 11:50

Conductive Inks and Pastes: Emerging Applications

Compiled by Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Research Director, IDTechEx

    For the following applications, IDTechEx will assess the market size (2018 and beyond) for conductive ink, growth, requirements for conductive ink, how that is changing or could change, key providers and trends:
  • 3D shaped antennas and aerosol
  • E-textiles and stretchable electronics
  • In-Mold Electronics (IME)
  • PCB printing
  • 3D Printed Electronics
  • Electrodes for Printed Sensors
  • Thin Film Transistors (TFTs)
  • Other emerging applications
  • 11:50 - 12:30

Printing and Patterning Conductive Ink

Compiled by Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx

    Assessment of printing technologies for conductive inks. The following printing types will be assessed:
  • Screen printing
  • Inkjet printing
  • Flexo printing (and offset)
  • Gravure printing (and offset)
    For each printing type above, the session will cover:
  • Printing capability (speed, resolution, uniformity, cost etc.) and material suitability
  • Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats assessment
  • Suitability to different applications - existing and future
  • Key players
  • 12:30 - 12:45

Curing and Attachment Considerations

Compiled by Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx

  • Assessment of curing/sintering options
  • Conductive adhesives and other component attach options
  • 12:45 - 13:00

Sponsor Presentation
"Silver nanowire: Transparent and Electrical Conductive Materials"

Vincent Carniato, VFP INK TECHNOLOGIES
Alexandre Long, PROTAVIC INTERNATIONAL

  • 13:00-14:00
  • Lunch & Networking
Register for the Forum

Timings and the agenda are subject to change

About IDTechEx

Since 1999 IDTechEx has provided independent market research, business intelligence and events on emerging technologies to clients in over 80 countries. Our clients use our insights to help make strategic business decisions and grow their organizations. IDTechEx is headquartered in Cambridge, UK with additional offices in Boston, USA; Berlin, Germany; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea. Learn More

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