FP7-SME-DEMO project “E-SIGNAGE-D”, started on 1 January 2014 and featuring a continuation project to the previous FP7-SME project “E-SIGNAGE”, is coordinated by Invent Baltics OÜ

Invent Baltics as the administrative coordinator of the project "Viability verification and market launch preparations for outdoor electronic message board displays" (E-SIGNAGE-D N° 606632) also advised the 5-member consortium in putting together the project proposal and in negotiating it through with the EC. The kick-off meeting took place in Estonia on 23-24 January 2014. Other partners of the SME-specific DEMO-call project include SME-s from Estonia (Visitret Displays OÜ), Sweden (Poltech AB) and Italy (VIS Mobility s.r.l) and a large Swedish company (Pricer AB). Strategic collaboration involves another two companies – SME Canatu Oy from Finland and LC-Tec from Sweden.

The aim of the E-SIGNAGE-D project is to explore the market potential and prepare for the market launch of a widely usable outdoor electronic signage and message board (OEMB) display module based on a fundamentally new display technology in combination with transparent electrode front-plane layers. As an example, the OEMB display module could be integrated into an OEMB device that consists of a display module, power supply i.e. a solar cell system, GPRS modules, software, and would be used for transmitting visual information.

The demo-project draws on the outcomes of a successful FP7 project E-SIGNAGE (Nov. 2011 – April 2013) where both SME and RTD Participants (9 altogether) developed a low-cost, durable, high brightness and contrast level, energy efficient (bi-stable; no backlight needed), high information content two-colour electronic outdoor message board device that is able to receive data via GSM communication and uses solar energy as a power source.

However, usage possibilities of the display module that was developed as a part of the OEMB device under E-SIGNAGE are not limited to the original OEMB device structure. Therefore, in order to have a wider applications possibility and through this a more widespread/complex impact on the SME partners / overall market, current project partners are focusing on exploring its extended market potential. This exploration will be followed by viability verification and market launch preparation activities for reducing the gap between the OEMB display module developed by E-SIGNAGE and the market.

Project duration: 20 months
Project total budget: ca 2.95 million EUR (including ca 1.77 million EUR EU contribution)