Windmill of Hope Program Leveraging SpeedTap Tags to Drive Efficiency and Ensure Transparency During Relief Efforts in South Korea
OSLO, Norway, April 6, 2017 - Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") (OSE: THIN), a global leader in NFC (near field communication) mobile marketing and smart packaging solutions, today announced a partnership with the Korean Red Cross in South Korea.
The two groups are collaborating to replace the paper-based confirmation process currently used by the Korean Red Cross in its Windmill of Hope program (Korean: Heemang-Poongcha) to verify delivery and receipt of relief items and services such as food, clothing, and medication. The new solution will leverage Thinfilm's NFC SpeedTap(TM) tags to drive program efficiency and ease administrative burdens for program directors. The NFC technology will also ensure full transparency regarding the exchange of goods between volunteers and those who receive support.
The Korean Red Cross has developed a custom web interface that integrates with the SpeedTap technology. A volunteer can simply scan a delivery receipt containing a SpeedTap tag with a smartphone or NFC device once a transaction is completed. The scan instantly confirms the exchange of goods and/or services and sends related data to the Korean Red Cross' cloud database in real-time for recordkeeping, reporting and analysis.
The Windmill of Hope program was launched in 2012 by the Korean Red Cross as a major humanitarian support initiative in South Korea. It was created to provide customized, integrated human services to low-income families and other socioeconomically vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, North Korean immigrants, and multi-cultural families. Red Cross volunteers are matched up with vulnerable people and make timely visits to deliver goods and ensure the well-being of those in need.
"The Windmill of Hope program helps improve the quality of life for so many less fortunate people in South Korea," said Kim Gunn-joong, Secretary General of the Korean Red Cross. "We believe using NFC technology to enhance our processes, drive efficiency, and increase transparency will enable the Korean Red Cross to be even more effective in delivering much needed support."
It is anticipated that, through the Windmill of Hope program, NFC technology will reach more than 20,000 households in South Korea. "The Korean Red Cross provides a tremendous amount of humanitarian support to those in need in South Korea, and it's exciting to know that Thinfilm's NFC technology is helping to enhance their relief efforts," said Davor Sutija, CEO of Thinfilm. "We are proud to partner with such an esteemed organization and look forward to launching this exciting program."
About Thin Film Electronics ASA
Thinfilm is a leader in NFC mobile marketing and smart packaging solutions using printed electronics technology. The first to commercialize printed, rewritable memory, the Company today creates printed tags, labels and systems that include memory, sensing, display, and wireless communication - all at a cost-per-function unmatched by conventional electronic technologies. Thinfilm's roadmap integrates technology from a strong and growing ecosystem of partners to bring intelligence to everyday items and effectively extend the traditional boundaries of the Internet of Things.
Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") is a publicly listed Norwegian company with global headquarters in Oslo, Norway; US headquarters in San Jose, California; and offices in Linköping, Sweden; Shanghai; Hong Kong; and Singapore. For more information, visit www.thinfilm.no . This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act).
About the Korean Red Cross
The Republic of Korea National Red Cross (more commonly known as the Korean Red Cross) is a major humanitarian partner to the Korean government and was established in 1905 through the Imperial Order (No. 47) of Emperor Gojong. The Korean Red Cross has been carrying out various projects and programs to protect the lives of people and alleviate their pain and suffering. These efforts include relief projects to help prisoners of war, wounded soldiers, and those affected by disaster; medical aid projects including blood services, emergency relief projects, and volunteer service programs; and assistance to reunite separated families.
For more information on Thinfilm please contact: Bill Cummings SVP Corporate Communications Thin Film Electronics ASA +1 408-503-7312 bill.cummings@thinfilm.no For more information on the Korean Red Cross please contact: Jin Ho. Hwang (04629) Public Relations Team, Korean Red Cross,145, Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea E : redspirit @redcross.or.kr T : +82-02-3705-3753 M : +82-10-2482-4650 http://www.redcross.or.kr
