CAMBRIDGE, England & DRESDEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CDT, Sumitomo and Novaled plan to co-develop hybrid OLED devices combining both new polymer emitting layers and doped electron transport layers. It is expected that these hybrid devices will offer further improvements in power efficiency without additional manufacturing complexity. The parties have reached an agreement on how IP generated during the JDA will be handled. Further, Novaled will grant a license to CDT enabling CDT to add necessary Novaled device IP to its existing and future licenses. Each company will remain responsible to market its own materials resulting from this co-development.
“CDT continues to focus its effort on supporting the P-OLED supply chain and is pleased to be involved in yet another joint development project which has the potential of bringing new materials and improved device performance to our licensees”, says David Fyfe, CEO of CDT.
“We are excited about the prospect of including new materials and device structures arising from a successful JDA between CDT and Novaled in our product plans. Having the support from CDT and Novaled, leading companies in their fields, increases the potential range of new products we can offer to the market”, says Kazuhiko Miyata, General Manager of Sumitomo New Business Development office.
“Novaled, with its Novaled PIN OLED™ technology, is a leader in high efficiency OLED devices and a recognized supplier of specialised dopants and organic transport materials”, says Gildas Sorin, CEO of Novaled. “We are pleased to contribute to the development of P-OLED devices and look forward to a successful collaboration with both CDT and Sumitomo Chemical. This co-development agreement is consistent with our strategy to promote our dopants in all organic electronic fields.”
About P-OLEDs
P-OLEDs have a number of intrinsic advantages over other display technologies. For example,
* P-OLED , as part of the family of OLEDs, is an emissive technology: P-OLED devices emit light as a function of their electrical operation. * P-OLED displays consists of polymer materials deposited on a substrate of glass or plastic, and do not require additional elements such as backlights or filters. * P-OLED technology is very energy efficient and lends itself to the creation of ultra-thin lighting displays that will operate at lower voltages.
The resulting benefits include brighter, clearer displays with viewing angles approaching 180 degrees, simpler construction offering the potential for cheaper, more robust display modules, and ultra-fast response times allowing full colour video pictures even at low temperature.
About CDT
Cambridge Display Technology (CDT), headquartered at Cambourne near Cambridge in the UK, is a pioneer in the development of polymer organic light emitting diodes (P-OLEDs) and their use in a wide range of electronic display products used for information management, communications and entertainment. P-OLEDs are part of the family of OLEDs, which are thin, lightweight and power efficient devices that emit light when an electric current flows. P-OLEDs offer an enhanced visual experience and superior performance characteristics compared with other flat panel display technologies such as liquid crystal displays, and have the key advantage that they can be applied in solution using printing processes. CDT was acquired by Sumitomo Chemical in September 2007. Together, CDT and Sumitomo lead the research and commercialization of light emitting polymer technology used in displays and lighting applications. More information on CDT can be found at: www.cdtltd.co.uk
About Sumitomo Chemical
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Limited is one of Japan’s leading chemical companies with sales of 1,897Billion JPY(consolidated) ended March 31, 2008, offering a diverse range of products in the fields of basic chemicals, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, IT-related chemicals, agricultural chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Sumitomo Chemical has positioned display materials as one of its core business areas and, while it continues to expand its liquid crystal display materials business, it is also concentrating its efforts on the development of next-generation display materials with a particular focus on P-OLEDs.
Sumitomo Chemical’s development of P-OLEDs began in 1989. In 2001, Sumitomo Chemical and CDT Ltd. of Cambridge, England, entered into a technical assistance agreement, including technology licensing for light-emitting materials, and in May 2002, Sumitomo Chemical made an equity investment in CDT Ltd. to build a closer working relationship for the commercialization of P-OLEDs. Subsequently Sumitomo and CDT formed a joint venture - Sumation - to develop and commercialise the P-OLED materials themselves.
While expanding business worldwide and aggressively pursuing cutting-edge R&D, Sumitomo Chemical continually strives to contribute to the sustainable development of society through its Responsible Care activities.
More information on Sumitomo Chemical can be found at: http://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english/index.html
About Novaled
Novaled AG is a world leading company in the OLED (organic light-emitting diode) field specialized in high efficiency long lifetime OLED structures and an expert in synthetic and analytical chemistry. The company offers complete solutions to the organic electronic markets, commercializing its Novaled PIN OLEDTM technology along with its proprietary OLED materials.
Novaled has developed long term partnerships with major OLED players worldwide. Based on more than 380 patents granted or pending, Novaled has a strong IP position in OLED technology.
Main investors are Crédit Agricole Private Equity, TechnoStart, TechFund Capital Europe and CDC Innovation. For more details please visit www.novaled.com
Contact:
Novaled: Anke Lemke, Tel. +49 351 796 5819 email: anke.lemke@novaled.com or CDT: Alexandra Gay, Tel. +44 1954 713600 email: agay@cdtltd.co.uk or Sumitomo: K Miyata, Tel.+81 3 5543 5444 email: miyatak@sc.sumitomo-chem.co.jp
Source: Novaled
