The Descartes award has recognized the transnational research and technological developments of Light Emitting Polymer (LEP-OLED) technology as the highest in Europe.

Cambridge, UK - November 21, 2003 - Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) and its European collaborators have been awarded the prestigious Descartes Award 2003 by the European Commission. The Descartes award is the Prize granted to the most outstanding scientific and technological achievements resulting from collaborative research and it is given to international research teams who have obtained exceptional results. The other team members, who share the award with CDT, are Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, UK, University of Mons-Hainaut, Belgium, University of Linköping, Sweden, Philips Electronics, The Netherlands and Covion Organic Semiconductors Gmbh, Germany.

The LEP-OLED team was short listed from 230 research teams across Europe and it was selected from eight finalists, whose research covered a wide range of science and technology areas; from artificial intelligence and advanced satellite-positioning systems, to giant sea waves and cures for Alzheimer’s disease.

In 1989, innovative research led by Richard Friend (CDT’s co-founder and Chief Scientist) at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University, UK discovered that Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) could be made from conjugated polymers. The potential application of these novel materials for flat panel displays and lighting was quickly realised and patents were filed to protect the innovation. CDT was founded shortly after to commercialise the technology. A European collaboration was subsequently established to address the multidisciplinary research required to advance the technology. Different technological areas such as materials synthesis, quantum chemical modelling, surface science, device engineering and manufacturing processes were systematically addressed and advanced within collaborative research. These activities have recently culminated into bringing LEP-OLED display products into the market, with strong control of IPR and know-how, and active manufacture in Europe.

David Fyfe, CEO of CDT said, "CDT is extremely honored to have received this prestigious award from the European Commission. We believe it recognizes, not only the outstanding research that CDT and its research partners have achieved over the years, but also the commitment and dedication of the international research team to commercializing this novel technology. It is a great validation that LEP-OLED technology will be a major participant in the flat panel display industry and more generally the nanotechnology field. "

LEP-OLEDs are semi-conducting plastics that emit a single colour of light when electrically simulated, which eliminates the need for backlights as required in LCD displays. This makes LEP-OLED displays thinner and lighter weight, as well as more power-efficient and able to offer superior quality images and wider angles. They also have the advantage of being solution processable organic materials that can be deposited on glass or plastic substrates through low cost manufacturing methods, such as inkjet printing, screen printing, laser transfer, contact printing, and flexographic and gravure. These revolutionary manufacturing methods are expected to change the way displays are produced and open new markets for flexible or conformal displays. CDT has many active research and development programs in material and device engineering, deposition processes such as inkjet printing, and manufacturing processes and tools. CDT continually develops and transfers its technology to its manufacturing licensees and JDA partners in order to facilitate the commercialization of LEP-OLED technology.

CDT’s pioneering success has been recognized by no less than eight UK and international awards in 2002 including the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) MacRobert Gold Medal - Britain’s top engineering award and Scientific American’s General Technology first prize.

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 licenses have been granted to Delta Optoelectronics, DuPont Displays, DNP, Eastgate Technology, MicroEmissive Displays, OSRAM, Philips, and Seiko-Epson. Founded in 1992, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, U.K. and has a LEP manufacturing development center in Godmanchester, U.K.

About the Descartes Prize
Named in honour of one of Europe's greatest figures of learning René Descartes: mathematician, natural scientist, and philosopher, this prize is awarded to research teams who have obtained exceptional results from European collaborative research. The prize is open to all fields of scientific endeavour.