PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1648843
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1648843
Flexible electronics refer to electronic circuits assembled on flexible plastic substrates, such as transparent conductive polyester film, polyimide, or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The process often involves mounting electronics on these flexible substrates, and silver circuits can be screen-printed on polyester to create flexible circuits.
The main types of flexible electronics include flexible displays, flexible batteries, flexible sensors, flexible memory, and flexible photovoltaics. Flexible display screens, for example, are made of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) displays. The various circuit structures include single-sided, double-sided, and others, and they find applications in displays, thin-film photovoltaics, printed sensors, batteries, OLED lighting, and other electronic devices. Flexible electronics are utilized across various industries, including consumer electronics, energy and power, healthcare, automotive, military and defense, aerospace, and other verticals.
The flexible electronics market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides flexible electronics market statistics, including flexible electronics industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a flexible electronics market share, detailed flexible electronics market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the flexible electronics industry. This flexible electronics market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The flexible electronics market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $36.22 billion in 2024 to $41.47 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to consumer electronics miniaturization, medical and healthcare applications, printed electronics, defense and aerospace applications, display innovation.
The flexible electronics market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $69.94 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to foldable and rollable devices, renewable energy, sustainable and eco-friendly electronics, automotive exterior applications, energy storage and flexible batteries. Major trends in the forecast period include wearable health and fitness tech, internet of things (iot) integration, medical wearables and implants, flexible sensors and robotics, 5g connectivity and flexible antennas.
The increasing demand for consumer electronic devices is propelling the growth of the flexible electronics market. Consumer electronics (CE) refers to any electronic equipment designed for end-users to purchase and use regularly for non-commercial or professional purposes. Most electronic devices incorporate flexible electronics, so the rising demand for consumer electronics directly boosts the flexible electronics market. For example, in January 2023, LG, a South Korea-based consumer electronics company, reported in its annual financial report for 2022 that it achieved sales exceeding $60 billion for the first time in its history. This represented a 12.9% increase from 2021, when sales first surpassed approximately $52.70 billion. Additionally, LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company recorded revenue of $22.5 billion in 2022, marking a 10.3% rise from the previous year. Thus, the growing demand for consumer electronics is driving the expansion of the flexible electronics market.
The rising demand for video games is anticipated to drive the growth of the flexible electronics market in the future. Video games are electronic games that involve user interaction with a visual interface, generating feedback on a two- or three-dimensional display device such as a TV screen, computer monitor, or handheld device. Flexible electronics, including flexible OLED displays, are commonly used in video games because they provide vibrant colors, deep blacks, and rapid response times, enhancing the visual experience. For example, in July 2022, the World Economic Forum, a Switzerland-based international non-governmental organization (NGO), reported that global revenues from video games reached $235.7 billion in 2022, with an increase to $257.1 billion in 2023. This upward trend is expected to continue, with projections of $278.4 billion in 2024, $299.9 billion in 2025, and reaching $321.1 billion by 2026. Thus, the increasing demand for video games is propelling the growth of the flexible electronics market.
The landscape of the mobile gaming market is being shaped by technological innovations. The convergence of technology and the growing trend of mobile gaming are driving market demand. In 2022, NextFlex, America's Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Manufacturing Institute, introduced Project Call 7.0 (PC 7.0), seeking proposals that advance the development and deployment of flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) while addressing critical challenges in advanced manufacturing and aligning with U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) priorities. This initiative builds on the success of previous Project Calls, emphasizing areas where FHE can impact high-priority U.S. manufacturing opportunities. In 2021, Royole Corporation, a pioneering force in flexible electronics, announced the Royole RoKit, the world's first open-platform flexible electronics development kit. RoKit integrates Royole's flexible display and sensor technologies with programmable hardware, offering product designers and application developers an opportunity to explore and harness the potential of flexible technologies. These innovations underscore the dynamic nature of the flexible electronics market and its responsiveness to emerging trends and opportunities.
Major companies in the flexible electronics market are emphasizing product innovation with technologies like flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) to deliver reliable services to customers. FHE refers to a class of electronic devices that integrate flexible substrates-such as plastic, paper, or fabric-with traditional and printed electronic components. For example, in November 2023, Wurth Elektronik, a Germany-based company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and supply of electronic and electromechanical components, launched the research project HyPerStripes. This initiative aims to advance flexible hybrid electronics, focusing on applications such as medical instruments, health monitoring, and secure electronics. A significant innovation within this project is the development of roll-to-roll processing, which enables the production of continuous flexible electronics on stretchable substrates. The goal of HyPerStripes is to translate European research and development knowledge into industrial production through a sustainable technology platform.
In a strategic move in July 2022, Samsung, a major South Korea-based electronics manufacturing company with expertise in flexible electronics, including flexible displays, made a significant acquisition. Samsung acquired Cynoa GmbH, a Germany-based company specializing in flexible electronics, particularly flexible and transparent displays, in a deal valued at $300 million. This strategic acquisition underscores Samsung's commitment to fortifying its product portfolio in the realm of flexible displays and foldable electronics, demonstrating the industry's focus on strategic collaborations and acquisitions to advance technological capabilities and market presence.
Major companies operating in the flexible electronics market include Blue Spark Technologies Inc., OLEDWorks LLC, AU Optronics Corp., Cymbet Corporation, E Ink Holdings Inc., Enfucell Oy, Flex Ltd., FlexEnable Ltd., Flexpoint Sensor Systems Inc., Imprint Energy Inc., LG Electronics Inc., Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Royole Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Solar Frontier K.K., LG Corporation, Enfucell Flexible Electronics Co. Ltd., E Ink Holdings, Jabil Inc., Bebop Sensors Inc., Sensing Tex SL, Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH, Agfa-Gevaert NV, GSI Technologies, Ynvisible Interactive Inc., Isorg SA, PragmatIC Semiconductor, Thales Digital Factory, StoreDot Ltd.
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the flexible electronics market in 2024. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the flexible electronics market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa.
The countries covered in the flexible electronics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.
The flexible electronics market consists of sales of liquid crystal display (LCD), electrophoretic display (EPD), organic light emitting diode (OLED) display , thin-film batteries, printed batteries, layered lithium polymer batteries, micro-batteries, advanced lithium-ion batteries, thin flexible supercapacitors, stretchable batteries , flexible pressure sensors, flexible gas sensors, flexible humidity sensors, flexible temperature sensors, flexible strain sensors, flexible magneto-impedance sensors, and flexible thermal flow sensors . Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Flexible Electronics Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on flexible electronics market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for flexible electronics ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The flexible electronics market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.