PI-SCALE · Project

European Pilot Line Turns Flexible OLED Prototypes Into Market-Ready Products

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Imagine you've designed a brilliant bendable light panel — paper-thin, glowing evenly, perfect for a car dashboard or a designer lamp. But you can only make ten of them by hand in a lab. PI-SCALE built a shared European production line where companies can go from that handful of lab samples to thousands of units, testing whether their flexible OLED product actually works at real manufacturing scale before committing to a full factory. Think of it as a test kitchen for flexible electronics — you bring the recipe, they have the industrial ovens.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the value chain

European countries involved

industry partners in the consortium

73%

industry participation ratio

market demonstration deliverables produced

distinct market demonstrator product tracks

total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Many European companies have promising flexible OLED product ideas — bendable lights for cars, ultra-thin designer lamps, flexible displays — but hit a wall when trying to move from a few lab samples to real production quantities. Building your own pilot production line requires millions in capital and years of setup time, which kills most innovative product concepts before they reach the market.

The solution

What was built

PI-SCALE built an open-access European flexible OLED pilot production line by integrating existing infrastructure across 15 partners in 5 countries. They produced 9 market demonstration deliverables across 4 product categories (each with v1 and v2 iterations), covering automotive lighting and designer luminaire applications, plus ran a design competition to engage new users.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive tier-1 suppliers developing flexible interior lighting or ambient OLED panelsDesigner luminaire manufacturers seeking ultra-thin, bendable light sourcesElectronics companies with flexible display or signage concepts ready for pilot productionSmart packaging companies exploring thin, flexible light-emitting labelsArchitectural firms interested in large-area, conformable lighting surfaces

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive lighting and interiors

enterprise

Target: Automotive tier-1 suppliers and OEMs developing flexible interior lighting, dashboard displays, or ambient lighting systems

If you are an automotive supplier struggling to move flexible OLED lighting from a lab concept to a producible component — this project built an open-access pilot line with 15 partners across 5 countries that validated upscaling for automotive applications specifically. They produced market demonstrators in multiple iterations, meaning your flexible OLED design can be tested and refined at semi-industrial volumes without building your own production facility.

Premium lighting and luminaire design

mid-size

Target: Designer luminaire manufacturers and architectural lighting firms wanting ultra-thin, flexible light sources

If you are a lighting manufacturer looking for next-generation flexible light panels but cannot justify building OLED production capability in-house — PI-SCALE created a service model where you bring your product design and the pilot line delivers validated prototypes at scale. With 9 demo deliverables covering multiple market applications, the line proved it can handle custom designs from concept through semi-industrial production.

Flexible electronics and displays

SME

Target: Electronics companies developing bendable displays, wearable screens, or flexible signage products

If you are an electronics company with a promising flexible display concept stuck in the lab — this project connected 11 industry partners with 4 research organizations to create Europe's most advanced flexible OLED pilot line. The open-access model means you can access the equipment and expertise of the entire consortium to validate your product without massive capital investment in your own production infrastructure.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost my company to access this pilot line?

The project operated as an open-access service, meaning external companies could use the facilities without building their own. Based on available project data, specific pricing per production run is not disclosed, but the model was designed to eliminate the need for companies to invest in their own pilot-scale OLED manufacturing equipment.

Can this pilot line produce at industrial volumes?

PI-SCALE was designed to bridge the gap between laboratory samples and mass manufacturing. The pilot line produced market demonstrators across 4 different product categories, each going through at least 2 iterations (v1 and v2), proving the upscaling concept works. Full mass production would be the next step beyond what this pilot line delivers.

How does IP and licensing work if I use this pilot line?

Based on available project data, the pilot line operates in open-access mode, meaning companies bring their own product designs. This suggests your IP stays with you — you are using shared manufacturing infrastructure, not licensing someone else's technology. Specific IP terms would need to be discussed with the consortium coordinator TNO.

What markets has this technology been validated for?

The project explicitly validated flexible OLED products for automotive applications and designer luminaires. With 9 demonstration deliverables across 4 distinct market demonstrator tracks, plus a design competition, the technology was tested across multiple end-use scenarios within these sectors.

Is the pilot line still operational after the project ended?

The project ended in June 2019. Based on available project data, the infrastructure was built to serve as a lasting European resource. TNO, the coordinator, is a major Dutch applied research organization with permanent facilities. Whether the specific open-access service continues would need to be confirmed directly with TNO.

What makes this different from just ordering custom OLEDs from Asia?

PI-SCALE specifically addresses the European gap between lab innovation and production. The consortium of 15 partners across 5 countries combines the best material providers, equipment manufacturers, and pilot facilities in one service. This means European companies can develop and validate products locally, protecting their IP and reducing lead times compared to offshore prototyping.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavily industry-driven consortium — 11 out of 15 partners (73%) come from industry, with only 4 research organizations and zero universities. That's unusual for EU projects and signals strong commercial intent. The coordinator is TNO, the Netherlands' premier applied research organization, which adds credibility and infrastructure permanence. The consortium spans 5 countries (CZ, DE, FI, NL, UK), covering key European electronics manufacturing hubs. Three SMEs in the mix suggest the pilot line was also designed to serve smaller companies that cannot afford their own OLED production facilities. The absence of universities reinforces that this was about engineering and manufacturing, not fundamental research.

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOCoordinator · NL
PILKINGTON TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT LTDparticipant · UK
CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED LBGparticipant · UK
COATEMA COATING MACHINERY GMBHparticipant · DE
TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OYparticipant · FI
AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTparticipant · DE
FLEXENABLE LIMITEDparticipant · UK
MYLAR SPECIALTY FILMS UK LIMITEDparticipant · UK
REHAU AUTOMOTIVE SE & CO KGparticipant · DE
M-SOLV LTDparticipant · UK
AMIRES SROparticipant · CZ

How to reach the team

TNO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek) is a large Dutch applied research organization. Contact their flexible electronics or OLED division.

Order a report on this consortium See NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to find out if PI-SCALE's pilot line capabilities match your product development needs? SciTransfer can connect you with the right people in the consortium and help you navigate access to the infrastructure.

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