Guest Editorial Special Issue on Flexible Electronics for Emerging Markets and Developing Economies

Necessity is the mother of invention and any technology gets shaped by the socioeconomic conditions of the environment where it is developed. Flexible electronics technology is a fledgling, but rapidly growing field which will have a significant impact on human societies around the world in the coming years. As this technology takes shape, it will benefit if future users of the technology get involved at the initial stages—to improve the efficacy of the technology and help target its future growth. The emerging markets and developing economies (EMDE) currently have roughly 85% of the world’s population, represent about 80% of the countries, and contribute close to 40% of the gross domestic product and purchasing power—and these numbers are expected to increase in the coming years. Moreover, many of the EMDEs are already increasing investments (both governments and private sector) in generating trained manpower, research, development, and innovation for science and technology. Thus, it will be immensely beneficial if EMDE researchers can get involved in promising newer flexible electronics at the early stages. With its larger population base and increased purchasing powers in the coming years and decades, researchers familiar with EMDE should be able to flag opportunities much earlier, the innovations and ideas that are likely to have large-scale applications. Through this Special Issue (SI), IEEE Journal on Flexible Electronics (J-FLEX) hopes to tap into this potential.