Showa Denko K.K., Universal Display announce OLED technology license agreement

TOKYO, JAPAN & EWING, USA: Showa Denko K.K., one of Japan’s leading producers of chemicals and industrial materials with individualized products for the sound growth of international society, and Universal Display Corp., an innovator behind today’s and tomorrow’s displays and lighting through its UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology, today announced that the companies have signed an OLED Technology License Agreement.

Under the agreement, Showa Denko will be able to integrate Universal Display’s proprietary UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent and other OLED technologies into Showa Denko’s white OLED lighting products fabricated by solution-processing methods.

Showa Denko has been developing polymer-based white OLEDs for use with coating-type manufacturing equipment that may enable the cost-effective production of large-area lighting panels. Through their development of a new device structure and the use of phosphorescent OLED technology and materials, the company recently demonstrated a white OLED lighting device with 30 lumens per Watt.

Universal Display is the recognized leader in phosphorescent OLED technology and materials. With a comprehensive patent and know how portfolio that covers these and other OLED technologies broadly on a worldwide basis, Universal Display has developed a series of proprietary, phosphorescent emitter products for use in vacuum-based and solution-processible OLED devices that offer state-of-the-art performance for displays and lighting products.

Demonstrated to provide up to a four times improvement in energy efficiency, UniversalPHOLED technology and materials have become a key element in OLED displays and lighting products in the market and under development.

“Universal Display has built a strong and fundamental patent portfolio in high-efficiency phosphorescent OLEDs. We are very pleased to enter into this OLED Technology License Agreement to enable us to use Universal Display’s technology in Showa Denko’s white OLEDs made by solution-processing methods,” stated Kenji Tsukamoto, Director, Chief Technology Officer of Showa Denko.

“Showa Denko has identified OLEDs as a key growth driver under its Passion Extension initiative. We believe that through the integration of UniversalPHOLED technology into our coated, white OLEDs, we will further enhance our potential to develop energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective white OLEDs for the lighting industry.”

“As a leading Japanese chemical company with products such as ultra-bright LEDs and hard-disk media, Showa Denko is showing vision and leadership in moving into energy-efficient white OLEDs as a key environmental protection and energy conservation technology for the future,” said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display.

“We are very excited to work with Showa Denko as they move forward into manufacturing using our proprietary UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology. This license agreement, under which we will receive license fees and running royalties, is an important milestone for Universal Display, Showa Denko and the entire OLED industry.”