Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) the leading developer of light emitting polymer (LEP) and dendrimer technology has announced a reorganisation to increase its focus on the key success factors for its business and to enhance its operational effectiveness. The streamlining activities will come into effect in two parts.

The first change affects its LEP materials development programme.  In September 2002, CDT acquired the rights to develop the technology of Opsys Ltd, an Oxford-based developer of high-efficiency, next generation LEP materials - light emitting dendrimers.  Since then CDT has carried on similar work in both Oxford and Cambridge.  In the first major move for enhanced efficiency, CDT will close the Oxford facility and move key scientists to Cambridge as part of a new “High Efficiency Materials” research group, focussed on next generation materials research.

Dr Scott Brown, CDT’s Research & Development Director says “this consolidation of resources under one roof will greatly enhance the synergies between the technologies being developed in parallel at Oxford & Cambridge as well as result in greater operational effectiveness”.

The second change affects CDT’s development of LEP manufacturing process technology.  Hitherto this has been divided between larger scale work at CDT’s Godmanchester-based Manufacturing Development Centre and laboratories at Madingley Road, Cambridge, some 15 miles apart.  Again, for operational effectiveness, process development activities in Cambridge will be moved to Godmanchester which has state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities. Part of this move will enable the consolidation of the inkjet printing activities, the key technology being developed for manufacture of full colour LEP displays.

Dr David Fyfe, CDT’s Chief Executive Officer, says “the benefits of getting all our activities relating to device and manufacturing process development under one roof at Godmanchester will be enormous and help speed advancement and rollout of LEP technology”.

The released space in Cambridge will be partially used to house the High Efficiency Materials research group and partially returned to the University of Cambridge from which it is leased until January 2004. Fundamental chemistry and physics research will remain for the longer term at the Madingley Road facility.

In a related management development, Dr Scott Brown, formerly responsible for research and development, will assume the added responsibility for all process-related development activities at Godmanchester.

Dr Fyfe comments on the sum of these changes:

“These moves will greatly enhance CDT’s organisational effectiveness.  LEP technology began full commercialisation in 2002 and increasing the speed of LEP technology development to meet the display industry’s product roadmap is essential.  To manage this with economy and increased effectiveness have been our objectives in making these moves - one of the most significant reorganisations in CDT’s 10-year history.

About CDT

Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) is a privately held company leading the research, development and commercialization of OLED technology for flat panel displays, lighting, sensors and photovoltaics. CDT’s light emitting dendrimer and polymer (LEP) technology is targeted for use in a wide range of electronic display products for information management, communications and entertainment. Features include reduced power consumption, thickness and weight, very wide viewing angle, superior video imaging performance and the potential to produce displays on plastic substrates. To date, manufacturing licences have been granted to Delta Optoelectronics, DuPont Displays, DNP, MicroEmissive Displays, OSRAM, Philips, and Seiko-Epson.

CDT is promoting LEP and dendrimer technology development and speeding its commercialization through a global business strategy including co-developments with leading companies in a wide range of display related technology areas. Founded in 1992, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, UK.