Smartkem is leveraging its innovative organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) technology to power the next generation of displays. Recently, Smartkem announced that it has partnered with AUO, Taiwan's largest display manufacturer, to jointly develop the world's first rollable and transparent MicroLED display, opening a new chapter in the display industry.
Technological breakthrough: Smartkem's low-temperature OTFT process leads MicroLED innovation
Ian Jenks, Chairman and CEO of Smartkem, said, "Partnering with AUO to develop MicroLED displays will put Smartkem's technology at the forefront of the commercialization of MicroLEDs. Our unique OTFT technology enables display manufacturers to efficiently produce MicroLED displays, reduce costs, and drive mass production, ultimately reducing the price of MicroLED TVs from the current high-end market level of up to $100,000 to a more competitive mass-market price.”
Smartkem's OTFT technology is significantly different from traditional microLED manufacturing processes. Because its transistors can be processed at lower temperatures, Smartkem's technology can deposit transistors directly onto MicroLED panels, avoiding the complex physical transfer and laser welding steps required by traditional technologies. This not only simplifies the manufacturing process, but also enables manufacturers to use lower-cost, more flexible plastic substrates instead of traditional glass substrates.
Strategic cooperation between Smartkem and AUO
Dr. Liao Weilong, Chief Technology Officer of AUO, said, "AUO has been focusing on the development of MicroLED display technology for many years and has been working with various partners in the ecosystem to promote mass production. In this collaboration, AUO is making breakthroughs in the high transparency and free-form applications of MicroLEDs through innovative technologies, and combined with Smartkem's proprietary materials and its OTFT production process, we are jointly developing the world's first rollable MicroLED display. We believe that this technology will not only provide cost advantages, but also promote the commercial application of MicroLED in the display industry.”
Pictured: Smartkem collaborates with AUO to promote the next generation of rollable and transparent MicroLED display technology (Source: TechPowerUP).
Industry analysis: huge potential, broad market prospects
"If this project is successful, it will demonstrate the unique cost-effectiveness of Smartkem technology in the MicroLED space, especially in the most challenging application scenarios," said Ross Young, display industry analyst and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). This will spark widespread market interest in this innovative technology and may drive the rapid adoption of MicroLED display technology.”
Intelligent display technology: the next step in changing the industry
Smartkem's OTFT technology has revolutionized MicroLED display manufacturing with its low-temperature processing properties. This allows Smartkem to create a new "chip-first" display architecture that is unmatched by other transistor technologies today. What's more, this low temperature makes it possible to significantly reduce the production cost of displays and enable processing on thin, transparent, and flexible plastic substrates, bringing unprecedented lightness and affordability to the display industry.
This breakthrough technology from Smartkem will not only improve the productivity of MicroLED displays, but also potentially change the entire display technology landscape and drive the commercialization of more innovative display products.
Cooperation prospects: open a new era in the display industry
It is reported that the cooperation between Smartkem and AUO will be officially launched on January 1, 2025, and will be supported by the 2024 Taiwan-UK R&D cooperation project. Funded by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Innovate UK, a division of the UK's Research and Innovation Agency (UKRI), this collaborative project will bring new opportunities to global display technology.
With the development of new microLED displays that are low-cost, transparent, flexible, and lightweight, Smartkem is poised to lead the display industry in innovation in the coming years.
