Worldwide Initiatives and Programs in Solid-State Lighting

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The U.S. is not alone in recognizing the possibilities for Solid-State Lighting.� Worldwide, interest and excitement is building, and national initiatives and programs being formed.� Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and China have government-supported initiatives for solid-state lighting.

Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and China have government-supported initiatives for solid-state lighting. There are also related activites in Europe. These initiatives and activities are described here, with links to additional reading and resources.

One of the first national programs was initiated in Japan.� In 1998, the Japan Research and Development Center of Metals established the five-year national project "The Development of Compound Semiconductors for High Efficiency Optoelectronic Conversion", also known as the "Light for the 21st Century".� The project brought together thirteen member companies and universities, and targeted an energy efficiency twice that of traditional fluorescent lamps through the use of long-life, thin, lightweight, GaN-based high-efficiency blue and ultraviolet LEDs.

There are indications that the solid-state lighting initiative will continue this year in Japan, primarily involving manufacturers, with the aim of providing an alternative to conventional lighting in about three years.

Additional Reading

� The Year 2000 Report of Results from the "Light for the 21^st Century" project was translated from Japanese into English by Kirill Sereda and Jeff Tsao, and can be downloaded from this website:

� Executive summary, table of contents, and first chapter (pdf - 1.4kb)

� Full report (MS Word format - 14.3mb).

� "Japanese collaboration seeks efficient white LED lighting" (Compound Semiconductor, July 2002)

� "Light Gets Solid" (oe magazine, October 2003)

� "Japanese LED project targets medical uses"� (CompoundSemiconductor.net, July 27, 2004 )

JLEDS, the Japan LED Association, was formed in June of 2004 to promote and support technology development and standardization for LED lighting.� ( JLEDS website )

Another new government-supported program involving LED development has been initiated in Japan.� A five-year initiative to develop LED medical equipment and therapeutics was publicized in August of 2004.� In the first year, the government has set aside ¥500 million (~ $4.6 million) to establish the Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Innovation Centre (YuMIC), with similar funding levels expected in each of the next four years.� The project will develop InGaN-based white LED technology.� More than 20 companies and several universities will participate in the project.� One of the goals of this initiative is to �use white HB-LEDs to develop interior lighting for medical applications.

Taiwan is investing in solid-state lighting at the national level.� The "Next Generation Lighting project" involves a consortium of 11 companies.� Between 2003 and 2005, approximately NT$ 383 million will be invested in the technology. �The goal is to achieve 50 lm/W output products and 100 lm/W in the laboratory.

Another two-year effort, funded by Taiwan�s National Science Council (NSC) for NT$12 million, is aimed at producing highly efficient LEDs.

Additional Reading

� "Taiwanese companies ramp up MOCVD capacity" (Compound Semiconductor, June 2004).

� "Formosa Epitaxy forms white LED consortium"� (Global Sources, January 2004)

� " Optical devices to replace toxic lighting mechanisms" (Taipei Times, April 2004)

� " Interview with Dr. Yung S. Liu, Chairman, Semiconductor Lighting Industry Association."� ( CENS report )

China has also made public its intentions to support the development of solid state lighting.� Called the "Semiconductor Lighting Project," four industrial bases for solid-state lighting will be developed with government support:� Xiamen city ( Fujian province ), Shanghai, Dalian ( Liaoning province ), and Nanchang ( Jiangxi province ). ��Roughly $12 million total is estimated as the government investment ( the figure reported in the People�s Daily -- US$1.2 billion -- is very likely a currency conversion error, according to knowledgeable sources on Asia, and US$12 million is more likely ).

Additional Reading

� " China Launches 50 Semiconductor Lighting Projects" �(Yahoo News)

� " Tech breakthroughs lower LED prices"� (see section on� "Government-led R&D efforts light up sector") (Global Sources, December 2003)

� " China to Build Semiconductor� Lighting Industrial Bases" (People�s Daily, June 25, 2004 )

� " Dalian develops semiconductor lighting venture" (China Daily, March 19, 2004 )

Korea has identified that solid-state lighting is an important technology.� Korea�s Photonics Technology Institute ( KOPTI) works with LED developments.� In addition, Korea apparently has an initiative funded for about $20M per year aiming to produce an 80 lm/W white LED in 2008.

Additional Reading

� " Korea is the new compound semiconductor boom region" (Compound Semiconductor, April 2002).

� Presentation by YM Yu from KOPTI ( undated ):� a review of Korea �s programs.

� " Korean manufacturers focus on white LEDs" (Compound Semiconductor, July 2004 )

� KOPTI research activities

The European Union is also investing in programs that either directly or indirectly support Solid-State Lighting.� Some recent articles and websites that summarize these diverse activities:

� "European Union tackles wide-bandgap material challenges." ( Compound Semiconductor, July 2002 )

� European Union Fifth Framework Information Society Technology (IST) 2003-2004 Work Programme supports work in solid-state lighting (see specific activity here)

� EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium) and background on this consortium ( article form EE Times)

� DENIS project ( "Development of low dislocation density gallium nitride substrates" ) ( see CORDIS summary here )

� VGF- GaP project ( "Development of vertical gradient freeze gallium phosphide substrates for LEDs" )

� The UK �s Cambridge Center for Gallium Nitride (directed by Professor Colin Humphreys, University of Cambridge ) is an active source of work supporting solid-state lighting and has projects funded by the UK government.� Additional detail here.

� "LEDs for Solid State Lighting: Technology, Applications, and the Remaining Challenges", George Craford, Lumileds, presentation at the International Technology Conference, February 2004 ( see chart on p. 37 for a summary of national initiative targets )

� " Nanoscience and Solid-State Lighting," George Craford, Lumileds, presentation at the DOE NanoSummit (June 2004) (see chart on p. 30 for a summary of initiatives)

� "HB-LED Ramp in Taiwan, Korean and China Quantified at Strategies In Light" ( CompoundSemi News, February 8, 2004 )

� "Cutting Through the Buzz on Production of HB-LEDs in Taiwan, South Korea and China" ( guest editorial by Robert Walker of Strategies Unlimited, CompoundSemi News, March 10, 2004 )