Printing processes could become core technologies in the burgeoning disposable electronics market, which is expected to be worth nearly £13bn by 2015.
According to Nanomarkets, RFID tags and smart cards will represent the largest sector, but items such as smart packaging, point-of-sale and shelf-edge displays will also feature.
Smart packaging would include sensors to detect tampering, temperature and other items such as pathogens.
The report claimed inkjet is one of the most economical approaches because it is an "additive process", using lower quantities of expensive conductive inks.
It also offers high resolutions and can handle variable data, but is hobbled by slow speed.
Gravure printing, however, offers higher throughput and resolution at speeds of up to 60sqm per second. The expense of engraving the print cylinders has so far made it unattractive for experimental use, but it could come to the fore for long-run electronic items, such as RFID tags.
Flexographic boasts speeds up to 800m per minute and is already widely used within the packaging industry. It too could be the platform of choice to embed RFID tags and antennas, and other smart packaging applications.
The report claimed that a number of companies are already working on projects to print batteries, organic circuits, photovoltaics and lighting using flexography.
It predicted that paper would be the most popular substrate for printed disposable electronics, as it is cheap. German company Printed Systems is already touting applications such as intelligent wallpaper and Harry Potter-style newspapers complete with video screens.
Nanomarkets also forecasted widespread commercial accessibility for these markets, with even high street copy shops likely to have the technology to print smart tickets for example.
