SmartKem sets its sights on China with patent confirmation

 

SmartKem, the UK-based developer of the truFLEX semiconductor platform for the manufacture of flexible displays and electronics, has had notification of patent allowance for its semiconductor material in China, a key market for the roll-out of its technology platform with display manufacturers across Asia.

This comes at a time when analysts predict a US$28.7bn investment in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) production across South Korea, Japan and China in 2016-2017, and SmartKem is now strengthening its position within the OLED display industry in China.

Whilst Samsung currently serves approximately 90% of today’s OLED market, strong competition is beginning to emerge from China. Indeed, Chinese panel manufacturers are beginning to switch investments from building liquid crystal display (LCD) facilities to new OLED facilities with many manufacturers setting their sights on new application markets for rigid and importantly, flexible OLED based display product.

Steve Kelly, CEO and founder of SmartKem, said successful collaboration is crucial in helping China to become a key stakeholder and competitor in the global OLED display industry.

SmartKem delivers world-class organic semiconductor materials for the low temperature, solution-coat manufacture of thin film transistors for the production of flexible displays and electronics. It has a world-class patent portfolio and a number of high profile joint development agreements in place with Asian display manufacturers. Its truFLEX organic semiconductor ink technology offers manufacturers a critical advantage in creating the next generation of ultra-flexible, low power and low cost OLED displays.