SciTransfer
PRESTIGE · Project

Smart Printed Materials That Make Steering Wheels, Wearables, and Packaging Interactive

manufacturingPilotedTRL 7
prestige.dynergie.eu

Imagine if the surfaces of everyday products — your car's steering wheel, your fitness tracker strap, a food container — could sense touch, harvest energy, or repel grease, all thanks to thin printed coatings. PRESTIGE developed advanced printable polymers that can be layered onto products to give them these "smart" abilities without bulky electronics. Think of it like giving ordinary objects a nervous system through ink-like materials. The team built 5 working demos across automotive, fashion/wearables, and reusable packaging to prove it works at near-commercial scale.

By the numbers
5
Working demonstrators built across different industries
TRL7
Target technology readiness level (system prototype in operational environment)
20
Consortium partners across the full value chain
8
European countries represented in the consortium
3
Commercial business cases validated (automotive, wearables, packaging)
7
SMEs involved in the project
The business problem

What needed solving

Consumer goods manufacturers face growing demand for products that are interactive, customizable, and sustainable — but adding smart features traditionally means expensive electronics, complex assembly, and rigid components. At the same time, packaging companies are under regulatory and consumer pressure to move away from single-use containers, yet current multi-use solutions lack the coatings and smart tracking needed to make reuse practical at scale.

The solution

What was built

The project built 5 demonstrators: a haptic steering wheel with touch-sensitive printed surfaces for safer driving, energy harvesting wearable materials that capture body movement as power, and e-plastic labels with oleophobic coatings for reusable food packaging. An artistic installation and design showcase were also created to demonstrate the materials' potential to broader audiences.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive Tier-1 suppliers developing next-generation interactive interiorsWearable device manufacturers seeking flexible energy harvesting solutionsPackaging companies transitioning to reusable multi-use containersSmart textile and fashion tech companies adding functionality to garmentsIndustrial coating suppliers looking for printable functional material portfolios
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive components
enterprise
Target: Tier-1 automotive interior suppliers producing steering wheels and dashboard components

If you are an automotive interior supplier dealing with demand for safer, more intuitive driver interfaces — this project developed a haptic steering wheel demonstrator at TRL7 using printed electroactive polymers that provide tactile feedback. The technology enables touch-sensitive surfaces directly integrated into steering wheel covers without adding bulky wiring. With 12 industry partners involved in validation, the manufacturing integration path is already mapped out.

Consumer electronics and wearables
mid-size
Target: Wearable device manufacturers and smart textile companies

If you are a wearable tech company struggling with battery life and rigid energy components — this project built energy harvesting and storage materials that can be printed directly onto flexible surfaces. The demonstrator targeted health, well-being, and fashion wearables, turning body movement into usable power through thin polymer films. This eliminates the need for separate battery modules in next-generation wearable products.

Food packaging
any
Target: Packaging manufacturers focused on sustainable multi-use containers

If you are a packaging company under pressure to reduce single-use waste — this project created e-plastic labels and oleophobic (grease-repelling) coatings for reusable packaging. The printed coatings make containers easier to clean and reuse while smart labels track usage cycles. With 5 demonstrators built across the 20-partner consortium, the packaging solution was validated alongside real industrial use cases.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to integrate these printed functional materials into our production line?

The project data does not include specific per-unit or integration costs. However, as an Innovation Action targeting TRL7 with 12 industry partners and 7 SMEs in the consortium, the technology was designed for manufacturability. Contact the coordinator team through SciTransfer for cost estimates based on your specific application.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

The project explicitly targeted TRL7 (system prototype demonstrated in an operational environment), which indicates near-industrial readiness. With 5 demonstrators built across 3 business cases — automotive, wearables, and packaging — the consortium validated scalability across different manufacturing contexts. The 60% industry ratio in the 20-partner consortium suggests strong manufacturing input throughout development.

What is the IP situation and how can we license this technology?

IP generated within this EU-funded project is typically owned by the partners who created it. With 20 partners across 8 countries including major players like CEA (France), licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the relevant consortium members. SciTransfer can help identify the right IP holders for your specific application area.

Which specific materials were developed and what can they do?

The project developed electroactive fluorinated polymers, photoactive materials, electroactive organic compounds, fluorinated relaxor terpolymers, tailor-made polymers for overmoulding, and organo-mineral coatings. These materials can be printed onto surfaces to enable haptic feedback, energy harvesting, energy storage, and oil-repelling properties.

Is the technology ready for commercial deployment now?

The project closed in April 2021 after targeting TRL7 demonstrations. Based on available project data, 5 demonstrators were built including 3 commercial business cases. Post-project commercialization status would need to be verified with individual consortium partners, as some may have advanced the technology further since project end.

Does this comply with EU packaging and automotive regulations?

The project addressed waste management as a societal challenge with its reusable packaging demonstrator, and safe mobility with its haptic steering wheel. Based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications are not detailed in the objectives. Compliance validation for your market would be a next step in any licensing discussion.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a commercially serious consortium with 20 partners from 8 European countries, led by CEA — France's major atomic and alternative energy research body. The 60% industry ratio (12 out of 20 partners) signals this was built for market, not just research papers. Seven SMEs participated, meaning smaller agile companies were directly involved in testing and validating the technology alongside 4 research organizations and 2 universities. The consortium was structured to cover the entire value chain from material scientists and designers through manufacturers and system integrators to end-users — a setup that typically accelerates technology transfer because commercial requirements shaped development from day one.

How to reach the team

Coordinator is CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives) in France — SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the relevant team.

Order a report on this consortiumSee COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing printed functional materials for your products? SciTransfer connects you directly with the right consortium partners — contact us for a tailored briefing on automotive, wearables, or packaging applications.

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