Summary

In these reports, n-tech Research forecasts the opportunities for focused smart functional surface applications across sectors including transportation, construction and real estate, energy, medicine and healthcare and consumer electronics. Smart surfaces, as defined in our data set, are surfaces that re-arrange their morphology or composition—and self-enhance their functionality—in response to changes in the environment. Smart surfaces are responsive to light and touch, ability to generate energy, self-healing and self-cleaning capabilities, to name just a few.  “Smarts” are provided through the natural characteristics of materials themselves (metal oxides, alloys, polymers, composite and biomaterials, for example), embedded sensing and specialized manufacturing processes such as material patterning:

In these n-tech Research forecast data sets, we forecast the opportunities in smart surface markets across a range of end-user industries.  We believe that smart surfaces play a critical element in meeting sustainability challenges, improving performance and expanding the human-machine interface capabilities

Analysis of opportunities will be considered from the standpoint of materials capabilities, manufacturing processes, applications demand and viability.  Forecasts will be presented by volumes, values, materials types, and markets addressed.  In each deliverable, clients receive both our qualitative and quantitative assessments of the market.