Active RFID in China

The US and China vie for the title of the world’s largest RFID market, this year seeing them level pegging with $1.3 billion of business, which is looking to quintuple in the next ten years. In 2007, the IDTechEx Knowledgebase of over 3,500 RFID projects in 109 countries added 156 new RFID projects in the US. China was number two by this measure, with 105 projects, which though fewer in number, were larger in size. In the US, much of the RFID use consists of active RFID where there is a battery in the tag. Examples are tracking military assets and Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) for staff and assets in hospitals. By contrast, China has been pre-eminent in using passive tags, notably contactless ID and payment cards, tickets and tagging of library books. However, RFID is a government priority in China, both to create a new industry supplying RFID and to see greater use of it in order to increase the competitiveness of the nation. To these ends, active RFID is now a priority as well. One example of its current use is in coal mining for staff safety, asset tracking and logistics, each are funded by the Chinese Government through its “RFID China Alliance”.

At the unique conference Active RFID, RTLS & Sensor Networks in Dallas, November 5-6, www.idtechex.com/active, the activities in both countries will be very much to the fore. Dr. John Wang of the University of Nevada Las Vegas will talk on “Opportunities for Active RFID and RTLS in China” and Stephen Moody of the US Army will discuss “Food Safety and Quality Control in the Military Supply Chain” using active RFID. Loc8tor and other companies presenting have their tags and readers made in China. In addition, other speakers from the Republic of Ireland, Norway, Israel, the UK and other countries will be in attendance in a truly global line-up of best-in-class experts. The driving forces behind the growth of active RFID from 12% of the market today to 26% in ten years time will be fully explored. Raghu Das, CEO of analysts IDTechEx, who host the conference, will present the global market analysis and forecasts. There are optional Masterclasses and an Investment Forum as well as visits to local centers of excellence.