CAMBRIDGE, UK, and Palo Alto, CA, - Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) Ltd. and Hewlett-Packard Company today announced they have formed a joint development program to develop light-emitting polymers for consumer applications. For the purposes of this project, the two companies have signed a cross-license agreement that gives each company access to the other's technology.

Researchers from both companies will explore ways to combine HP's technology expertise in silicon and optoelectronics with CDT's light-emitting-polymer technology to make a high-density display with more vibrant colors, wider viewing angles and lower manufacturing costs than today's conventional liquid crystal displays. Light-emitting polymers are organic polymer materials that actually emit light when a voltage is applied to electrodes on both sides of the material. In contrast, liquid crystals do not emit light and require a backlight to be seen in the dark.

"Our joint development program with HP is another sign that light-emitting-polymer displays will have a substantial impact on the display market. HP is a well-respected technology company that is active in many of the markets that LEP will impact. Working with HP will help CDT understand the requirements of those markets, and make sure that LEP develops to satisfy those requirements," said Danny Chapchal, chief executive officer of CDT.

"While we are in an early stage of development, we think that light-emitting polymers could eventually result in applications in a wide variety of consumer products, including printers, cellular phones and personal digital assistants," said Gary Baldwin, director of the Solid-State Technology Laboratory at HP Laboratories in Palo Alto, California.

About Hewlett-Packard:
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 122,800 employees and had revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year.