As a tumultuous 2020 draws to a close in Q4, the microLED industry continues to show strong
resilience as a number of major financial and technological developments have transpired over the last 1-2 months.
1. Lextar & XDC
A critical step in bringing microLEDS to market on a mass scale is the integration of microLED
chip manufacturing with the mass-transfer of those microLEDs onto displays. MicroLED developer Lextar and display manufacturer XDC announced a joint development and licensing agreement around this very issue. Lextar is a leading company in the Opto-semiconductor space, with a focus on microLEDS and an expertise in displays, and XDC’s mass-transfer technology is suitable for the mass production of a wide variety of display applications including TVs, monitors, signs, laptops, and smartphones. Under terms of the agreement, XDC customers will be provided with Lextar’s microLED technology. C.N. Huang, VP of Lextar Technology Center, expressed his hope that this collaboration would help “accelerate the commercialization of next-generation display technology.”
2. Foxconn & EOSRL
Consumer electronics giant Foxconn (manufacturer of Apple and Xiaomi phones, among other major devices) will soon be manufacturing AR smart glasses featuring microLED pixels. Previously, Foxconn has invested in eLux – a US company focused on microLED development. According to reports, Foxconn has partnered with Electronics and Optoelectronic System Research Laboratories (EOSRL) for a 3 year license for its microLED technology. The plan is to bring the AR glasses to market by 2022.
3. Sharp Display Technology (SDTC)
Samsung, Sony, and LG are among the leading manufacturers of next generation displays. But Japanese electronics titan Sony is now looking to make a larger impact in the industry as well. According to multiple sources, including LEDInside, Sharp will be spinning off a new subsidiary company dedicated to displays called “Sharp Display Technology” (SDTC). MicroLED development will be a key area of focus for SDTC; there is speculation that Sharp will house its microLED development in the Hakusan plant it has acquired from JDI.
4. Aledia & SPI
Aledia, a leading microLED designer and manufacturer based in France, announced that they will be completing product development and building an unprecedented microLED manufacturing plant in Grenoble. Aledia has advanced a unique 3D structure in its microLED design, which features Galium Nitrade (GaN) on silicon (Si) nanowires. These developments will be financed by the 80M Euro recently raised as part of a Series-D round. The lead investor is the Societe de Projet Industriel (SPI) which itself is underwritten by the French government. SPI joins a prestigious group of original investors including Intel Capital and Tokyo Electron (TEL).
