| 1989 |
PLEDS are discovered in Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University. While working in the research group of Professor Richard Friend, Jeremy Burroughes (now CTO of CDT) discovers that LEDs could be made using conjugated polymers. Professor Friend, Dr Burroughes and Dr Donald Bradley filed the original patent in this field. Andrew Holmes and his team in the Chemistry Department are also involved and a co-authored paper is published in Nature. |
 |
| 1991 |
First working displays developed (3 x 5 pixels) |
|
| 1992 |
CDT is founded by Cambridge University and seed venture capital |
|
| 1994 |
CDT numbers grow. Move to new facilities |
|
| 1995 |
Use of polymers for photovoltaic devices pioneered at the Cavendish Laboratory |
|
| 1996 |
CDT secures first licensees (Philips and Uniax) |
|
| 1997 |
CDT receives an investment of $10 million by a financial group headed by Lord Young of Grafham, former UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Later in the year, Intel, the semiconductor manufacturer, also invests in CDT
|
|
| 1998 |
Ink jet printing joint venture signed with Seiko-Epson |
|
| 1999 |
CDT moves to Greenwich House (Cambridge University Campus) in order to support a rapidly growing number of staff and to provide new chemistry facilities |
|
| 1999 |
Kelso Investment Associates and Hillman Capital acquire a majority interest in CDT for a total of $133m. Kelso and Hillman are both private equity funds, based in New York, USA. They provide additional funding of $16m directly to the company to finance ongoing research and development activities |
|
| 2000 |
CDT and Seiko-Epson demonstrate the world's first full colour active matrix ink-jet printed PLED display. It measures 2.5 sq. inches and is 2 mm thick
|
|
| 2001 |
CDT and Seiko-Epson demonstrate a 2.8-inch diagonal, 100 ppi resolution display, which showcases technology advances in the past year |
|
| 2001 |
A further $28m is raised from shareholders. These funds are raised partly to finance construction of the Technology Development Centre, Godmanchester, UK |
|
| 2001 |
CDT acquires Californian based Litrex Corporation from Gretag Imaging of Regensdorf, Switzerland |
|
| 2002 |
CDT announce completion of its new 1,750 square meter US$25 million Technology Development Centre in Godmanchester, U.K. The heart of the centre is a 600m sq. state-of-the-art cleanroom, comprising class 100 and class 1000 areas |
|
| 2002 |
CDT and Seiko Epson Corporation, Japan agree to form Polyink, a joint venture company that will offer technologies and services using inkjet deposition for manufacturing PLED displays |
|
| 2002 |
CDT receives the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award. This prestigious prize rewards CDT's rapid commercialization of PLED technology, and the contribution made to establish the UK as a hot bed for innovation in science and engineering on the world stage |
|
| 2002 |
First high profile commercial PLED product when Philips launches its innovative shaver with electronic display - featured in James Bond movie "Die Another Day" |
|
| 2002 |
CDT acquires Oxford-based Opsys Limited. CDT receives ownership of all rights to Opsys' dendrimer OLED technology and assumes management of the UK business |
|
| 2003 |
CDT announces it has dramatically improved the life performance of display devices based on PLED technology, achieving over 20,000 hours of operation for its blue polymer research devices. The advancement is a significant improvement and major step towards the commercial exploitation of PLED technology in several full colour active matrix applications such as internet access devices, computer applications and consumer electronic products
|
|
| 2003 |
CDT announces availability of world's first complete in-line manufacturing line for PLED displays, using precision ink jet printing technology |
|
| 2003 |
Sumitomo Chemical and CDT form joint development project to create high efficiency materials using dendrimer technology, this will be especially important for the development of products requiring low power consumption |
|
| 2004 |
Philips incorporates polymer LED display into 'Magic Mirror' mobile telephone |
back
to top