Oct 14 2010
Moser Baer Technologies, Inc. ("MBT"), the U.S. division of Moser Baer India, Ltd., Universal Display Corporation ("UDC"), and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering's ("CNSE") Smart System Technology + Commercialization Center ("STC") today announced a partnership to establish the world's first pilot production facility for Organic Light Emitting Diode ("OLED") lighting panels at STC's Canandaigua location, which will create more than 50 high-tech jobs by 2012 while further building New York's world-class resources to support clean and environmentally friendly technologies.
MBT will invest $11.5 million to acquire state-of-the-art equipment for the pilot manufacturing line. This capability will play a critical role in the development and deployment of OLED solid state lighting ("SSL") technology, which offers increased energy efficiency, decreased power consumption, and an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The initiative is supported by a $4 million grant, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded to MBT's partner, UDC, a world leader in the development of innovative OLED technology for use in flat panel displays, lighting and organic electronics. During this program, UDC will demonstrate the scalability of its proprietary UniversalPHOLED™ technology and materials for the manufacture of white OLED lighting panels that meet commercial lighting targets.
In addition, Empire State Development ("ESD") will provide access to business incentives, including low-interest loans, and STC will contribute funding from an Economic Development Administration grant to construct advanced cleanroom space required by MBT to manufacture OLED lighting panels. Moser Baer is eligible to receive a Qualified Emerging Technology Credit ("QETC"), as well as Empire Zone benefits. Entry into the Empire Zone program was significantly aided by both the City of Geneva and Ontario County.
MBT CEO Dr. G. Rajeswaran said, "OLEDs were invented in Rochester, and we're taking advantage of the significant intellectual assets that exist here. That, in addition to the support from STC and CNSE, was a major reason for the decision to locate here. We feel strongly that this investment will place Rochester and the Finger Lakes region on the global map as the center for OLED lighting technology development and manufacturing. OLED lighting products will require new manufacturing technologies which will be developed and deployed in this very first OLED pilot production line in the world. Moser Baer Technologies and its partner companies are pleased to locate this clean technology project of global relevance in New York State."
"We are very pleased to be part of this groundbreaking effort to bring high technology OLED manufacturing for energy efficient lighting to the United States," said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display. "Our proprietary high efficiency phosphorescent OLED technology and materials, together with Moser Baer Technologies high volume manufacturing expertise, promises a bright future for OLED lighting here in the U.S. We are extremely pleased to be the leader of the team selected by the Department of Energy to help move the U.S. into the 21st century for the production of energy efficient, and environmentally friendly, solid state OLED lighting."
Empire State Development Chairman & CEO Dennis M. Mullen said, "Moser Baer's decision to locate their first U.S. operations at the recently created Smart Systems Technology Center is a tremendous example of the attraction capability New York State's Centers of Excellence have in the world of new and emerging technologies. The recently merged resources of the Smart System Tech Center under CNSE have brought the state's R&D capabilities in nano and micro technology to a new level. Moser Baer is a world-class manufacturer that chose to locate operations in New York State because our technology infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong partnerships between industry and higher education make New York unparalleled to any other location. Moser Baer will develop their technology to introduce highly-efficient, innovative lighting solutions at STC, which has the potential to generate $20 billion in savings of electricity costs worldwide and save over nine million metric tons of carbon emissions from the U.S. alone by 2016. Moser Baer's investment gives New York State an enormous competitive advantage in the field of advance manufacturing and high technology, further strengthening our leadership in the world's innovative economy."
CNSE Senior Vice President and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros said, "We are delighted to engage in this pioneering partnership with Moser Baer Technologies, a recognized global technology leader, to establish a first-of-its-kind pilot production facility that will enable nanotechnology innovations for energy efficient and environmentally friendly lighting. Under the leadership of CNSE Vice President Paul Tolley, we look forward to building on the advanced capabilities at CNSE's Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center in Canandaigua, further accelerating critical technologies to address the needs of industry while attracting nanotechnology jobs, companies and investment to Western New York."
CNSE Vice President for Disruptive Technologies and STC Executive Director Paul Tolley said, "This public-private partnership will enable unparalleled capabilities at CNSE's Smart System Technology & Commercialization Center and place New York State at the forefront of innovation in OLED lighting technology. We are excited to work with Moser Baer Technologies and Universal Display Corporation on this important initiative, which will have far-reaching impacts on technology development and economic growth, while helping the transition to a more efficient and environmentally friendly lighting technology."
The announcement marks the first major development since the September 20 establishment of CNSE's STC, created through a merger of two of New York State's Centers of Excellence - the Infotonics Technology Center ("ITC") in Canandaigua and the Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology ("CENN") at CNSE.
The OLED pilot production facility at CNSE's STC will be supported by leading-edge research and development and world-class technological capabilities at CNSE's $6.5 billion Albany NanoTech Complex, the most advanced research enterprise of its kind at any university in the world.
Additionally, as part of the collaboration, CNSE's STC and MBT will jointly develop solid state lighting technologies, which offer further improvements in energy efficiency and performance as compared to current technologies.