Sony, Innovation Network Corporation of Japan
(INCJ), Japan Display Inc., Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. have
executed a definitive agreement to establish a new company, JOLED Inc., to integrate Sony and Panasonic’s R&D functions
for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels.
Through this collaboration, the companies aim to accelerate the
development and early commercialization of OLED display panels.
JOLED is scheduled to be launched n January 2015, subject to
receipt of any necessary approvals.
INCJ and JDI will respectively hold 75% and 15% of the voting rights in JOLED, and Sony and Panasonic will each hold 5%. In addition, INCJ and JDI plan to make additional investments to
fund a pilot manufacturing plant when the technology is ready for commercialization.
OLED displays offer great promise as the next-generation display technology due to their light-emitting properties, which enable
displays to be lighter and thinner. JOLED will bring together
OLED display technologies from Sony and Panasonic, including
use of printing technology for OLED production, transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors, and flexible display technology.
In addition, JOLED plans to take advantage of JDI's wide
-ranging portfolio of display technologies.
JOLED plans to focus primarily on development of medium-size
OLED displays for use in tablets, mobile PCs, and signage.
Currently, OLED display production has been dominated by LG Display, a subsidiary of LG Electronics, as the Korean company has chosen to invest in the field.