Stretchable Electronics Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027

The stretchable electronics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.85% during the forecast period to reach US$55.588 billion by 2027, from US$8.023 billion in 2020. Stretchable electronics, also termed elastic circuits, are architected by embedding electronic circuits and components on a stretchable substrate, like polyurethanes and silicones, to build a completed circuit design. These elastic electronics possess the ability to endure large strains without affecting the functionality of the device. These electronics are designed to bio mimic the human skin by being stretchable while retaining complete functionality. Soft and conformable electronics are rapidly emerging as the future of next-generation electronic devices, owing to their easy deployment in a variety of environments, such as on-skin, on-body, or biomedical implants. Furthermore, the development of nanofabrication, nanomaterials, and additive manufacturing is further augmenting the stretchable electronics market. The market for stretchable electronics is segmented based on the type of components, end-user industries, and geographical regions.

The advancements in innovative technologies and the growing demand for portable electronic products are expected to augment the market’s growth.

Stretchable electronics are gaining heightened attention among the academic community and competitive landscape for their immense potential and versatility. Owing to their appealing features such as portability, flexibility, and light and thin attributes, they could be deployed in an array of innovative segments, including biomedical engineering, automotive, soft robotics, epidermal electronic devices, and many more. Advancements in 3D printing technology and nanotechnology have further unlocked the possibilities of these devices. The development of a glucose-monitoring contact lens is the best example of this. A study funded by the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, the Ministry of Science, and ICT in Korea has further proved the feasibility of such a lens in the diagnosis of diabetes. Furthermore, in June 2021, the researchers at Stanford innovated a technique to build an ultrathin and flexible electronic circuit of fewer than 100 nanometres in length. Researchers believe that ‘Flextronics’ has become close to reality with this new development. Such developments are further augmented by the initiatives taken by the various governments. For instance, in February 2021, Indian National Centre for Flexible Electronics and MeitY launched the ‘FlexE Innovation Challenge’ in response to changing technologies and growing demand for reliable technological solutions. Further, in July 2021, the Department of Defense of the United Nations showed a growing interest in flexible electronic designs and had invested in NextFlex, an electronic innovator. The investment also included a $154 million prize for an Army-led flexible electronics project. Similar ongoing developments are expected to add impetus to the market growth. Nevertheless, developing a suitable stretchable substrate and the costs and time associated with it are expected to restrain the market’s growth.

The fierce competitive landscape and strategic developments deployed by the key players in the North America and Asia Pacific regions are expected to drive the market exponentially.

By geography, the stretchable electronics market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. North America and the Asia Pacific are expected to hold a dominant market share globally. The growth in these regions is attributed to the increasing technological innovations and strategic developments, such as launches, investments, and partnerships, by the enterprises in the region to increase their brand presence. Pragmatic Semiconductors are the best example of this. In April 2022, a venture capital firm, Cambridge Innovation Capital, predominantly active in life science and technology industries, raised £225 million in funds for its oversubscribed funding round II. CIC's portfolio company, Pragmatic Semiconductor, one of the portfolio companies of CIC and a low-cost, flexible integrated circuits provider, had raised about $80M to build another facility in the northern part of England. Further in 2022, Amcor announced a strategic investment in Pragmatic Semiconductors in the former’s pursuit to discover and innovate technologies for packaging technologies. In 2020, Henkel Adhesive Technologies and Quad Industries had teamed up and launched a smart health patch for COVID-19 patients. In March 2021, the two companies further expanded their collaboration to develop printed electronic solutions. Another such example is Boron Molecular’s partnership with CSIRO and KISCO. In July 2020, Australia’s National Science Agency, CSIRO, and South Korea-based Kyung-In Synthetic Corporation took a minority shareholding in Melbourne-based Boron Molecular. With CISRO Technologies' aid, this partnership was expected to enable the development of the latter’s manufacturing capacity in Australia and increase its presence in the global market.

COVID-19 Insights

COVID-19 has slowed down the stretchable electronics market. The mandated social distancing measures and lockdowns implemented by various governments have led to several production facilities' complete or partial closure. Coupled with social distancing measures and an increase in active cases, industry staffing is declining, slowing productivity. Furthermore, the travel restrictions imposed by several borders further led to gaps in supply and demand chains. However, stretchable electronics in the healthcare industry saw significant developments with an increase in immediate demand for health solutions. Henkel's collaboration with several other companies to design and launch a smart health patch for COVID-19 in 2020 is one of the best examples of this.

Market Segmentation:

By Component

• Circuit
• Polymer
• Battery

By End-user Industry

• Consumer Electronics
• Healthcare
• Aerospace and Defense
• Communication and Technology
• Automotive

By Geography

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Europe
• Germany
• UK
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel
• Asia Pacific
• China
• Japan
• India
• Indonesia
• South Korea
• Taiwan