LOPEC Roundtable
LOPEC Roundtable 2026
Panel Discussion: Aerospace and Defense – What Role for Flexible and Printed Technologies?
The aerospace and defense industries demand technologies where failure is not an option. Mission-critical hardware for satellites, aircraft, and communication systems must be able to withstand harsh conditions, extreme temperatures, radiation, and mechanical stress.
As electronics evolve, printed and flexible solutions are beginning to meet—and even redefine—these requirements. Lightweight, conformable systems enable design freedom, integration, and cost benefits while opening new possibilities for distributed sensing and embedded intelligence.
The LOPEC Roundtable is a place for open, controversial and forward-looking strategic exchange. This year, the focus is on interaction between all parties involved in the value chain, from research and design to manufacturing and practical application.
Defense, aerospace, and advanced materials experts will discuss how printed and flexible electronics are becoming essential for next-generation, mission-critical systems, as well as the challenges of large-scale adoption.
When?
February 25, 2026, 15:00 – 16:00
Where?
LOPEC Forum in the foyer of the ICM.
All LOPEC visitors receive free entrance.
What makes this Roundtable special
Experts from a wide range of fields will discuss the industrial-scale adoption of flexible and printed electronics within the defense industry and its role in developing new, effective products. They will also address the remaining obstacles.
Come see how different perspectives lead to concrete solutions.
Participants include:
- A representative from the field of printable materials for aerospace.
- A representative from a research institute specializing in hybrid and printed electronics.
- A retired colonel from the German Armed Forces and former diplomat representing the military.
- A representative from a plant and machine manufacturer specializing in flexible and printed electronics.
- An expert in product design and innovation for the healthcare and aerospace industries.
And an experienced moderator and author from the field of organic, flexible, and printed electronics.
Topics
- Aerospace-grade reliability:
What does "mission-critical" mean in practice? - Flexible and printed electronics:
Which aerospace applications are driving demand, and where do we stand today? - Dual-use innovation:
How can civilian technologies be responsibly adapted for defence purposes? - Scaling and supply chains:
What does it take for the industry to ensure quality, quantity, and security in global supply chains? - The foreseeable future:
What materials, manufacturing approaches, and collaborations can create a robust ecosystem for defense & aerospace?
The panelists of the LOPEC 2026 Roundtable
The panel is organized and facilitated by Dr. Giovanni Nisato, Managing Director, Innovation-Horizons
Notice: The LOPEC Roundtable will be held in English language, there will be no simultaneous translation.
Giovanni Nisato is a seasoned facilitator specialized in collaborative innovation. He has a rich background in printed electronics with roles at Philips, CSEM, OE-A, and as co-editor of the book “Organic and Printed Electronics, Fundamentals and Applications”
Massimiliano Crescioli is a design strategist and business developer with more than thirty years of international experience in design, corporate strategy, and product innovation. In the early 2000s, he pioneered the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to design projects, achieving in 2017 the world’s first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for an entire furniture collection. Since 2016, he has been CEO and Design Strategy Manager of Albero Bambino, winning the European Product Design Award. In 2023, he became Head of R&D at Inhoc Signo, focusing on healthcare, aerospace, and advanced materials.
Christian Daschner is the CEO and founder of db-matik AG, a leading company providing turnkey solutions for production lines and equipment in the field of flexible and printed electronics. The company was founded in 2003 and currently employs around 125 specialists and professionals. With more than 25 years of experience in the development and production of machinery for the electronics industry, Christian Daschner brings a broad range of expertise and in-depth industry knowledge. The dynamic growth of db-matik AG reflects this experience and leadership.
Daniel Slep is CEO and Co-founder of ChemCubed, a specialty company developing advanced printable materials for aerospace applications. He has more than 30 years of experience across printing-intensive industries, spanning startups to Fortune 500 companies, with leadership roles in manufacturing, research, and product development. His core expertise lies in materials and process development for inkjet and other printing technologies, translating materials science into scalable manufacturing solutions. Daniel holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Materials Science. In addition to his industrial career, he has served as an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University and on external advisory boards at Rutgers and Stony Brook University, lecturing on additive manufacturing, polymer engineering, and nanotechnology. He is the inventor of multiple patents and the author of numerous industry and scientific publications, reflecting a sustained contribution to innovation in printable materials and advanced manufacturing.
Col (ret.) Engelbert J. Theisen is a seasoned military officer, diplomat, and international relations expert with academic and professional training in Germany, the United States, France, and Switzerland. Over a long career, he served in senior roles in crisis management, peacekeeping, and defense diplomacy, including assignments in Franco-German cooperation, at the United Nations in New York, and on UN and NATO missions in Africa, the Middle East, Central America, the Balkans, Somalia, and Afghanistan. He also held positions at the German Federal Ministry of Defense and the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. For 13 years, he served as Defense Attaché at German embassies in Africa and the Middle East. Retired from active service in 2020, he lectures at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences and, since June 2025, serves as Head of Defense at DB-MATIK AG in Bavaria.
Jeroen van den Brand is Director at Holst Centre in Eindhoven, a leading open-innovation research institute powered by imec and TNO, where he steers strategic research and innovation in hybrid and printed electronics. He holds an M.Sc. (2000) and Ph.D. (2004) in Materials Science and Engineering from Delft University of Technology. He began his career at FujiFilm, developing roll-to-roll manufacturing technologies, before joining Holst Centre in 2007. There, he advanced through successive research and leadership roles, ultimately heading the centre’s printed electronics activities. Since 2018, he has led the Hybrid & Printed Electronics group, driving breakthrough additive manufacturing technologies for flexible, wearable, and sustainable electronics, with a strong focus on industrial integration and scalability. In parallel, he is part-time Professor of Printed Electronics at Ghent University, underlining his commitment to bridging academic research and industrial impact. Jeroen also serves on several industry boards and leads the OE-A roadmap chapter on Aerospace and Defense.
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