Samsung chose ‘QD (Quantum Dot) display’ as the next-generation premium TV display technology. To mass-produce world’s first large size QD displays, it decided to invest $11 billion (13.1 trillion KRW) until 2025. As a result, it will go through a change of its main large size display technology from LCD to QD.
Samsung Display held an agreement ceremony at its Asan Campus on the 10th and it stated that it would invest $11 billion on production facilities and R&D until 2025.
Representatives from Samsung Display’s main partners as well as President Moon Jae-in, Vice-Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics, and President Lee Dong-hoon of Samsung Display were in attendance at the ceremony.
Starting with this investment, Samsung Display is going to change the direction of its large size display technology towards QD display. QD is a particle that can reproduce color that is close to natural colors. QD display is a display that combines QD, circuit elements, and organic and inorganic luminescent materials. It can be more accurate in producing more colors by combining OLED and QD and it has better performance and lifespan than current technologies. When plastic substrate is used, its design can be innovative regardless of its forms such as foldable and rollable.
“Display industry is the foundation of our manufacturing industry.” said President Moon Jae-in. “We need to grab the upper hand in next-generation display markets as well based on our world’s best competitive edge in OLED.” President Moon proclaimed that South Korean Government would invest $336 million (400 billion KRW) into development of next-generation display technologies for the next 7 years.
“This ceremony will be the starting point for us to become the powerhouse in display and manufacturing that will be so far ahead of other countries while maintaining the world’s top competitive edge in display and being self-reliant on key materials, parts, and equipment.” said President Moon with emphasis.
Samsung Display decided to construct world’s first QD display production line called ‘Q1 Line’ at its Asan 1 Campus. It is going to convert its 8 Gen LCD line step by step and start producing 30,000 QD displays that are bigger than 65 inches initially starting from 2021. It is planning to gradually increase production capacity until 2025.
“QD, which is a semiconductor particle that produces color that is close to natural colors, is the vision for the future growth of large size display industry.” said President Lee Dong-hoon of Samsung Display. “We are going to lead premium display markets through this investment.”
In order to accelerate the process of commercializing new technologies, Samsung is going to place some of its employees working in LCD division to QD display division. It is also going to hire new employees who specialize in QD materials. Samsung Display is expecting that there will be 81,000 new jobs created for the next 5 years.
Samsung is planning to solidify its collaborative ecosystem by stabilizing supply network of necessary parts and internalizing core technologies starting from the beginning stage of this project. It is going to raise the level of collaboration with South Korean companies by diversifying supply network and increasing its competitive edge in key parts.
In addition, it is also going to strengthen industry-university collaboration by establishing ‘Display Research Center’ with South Korean universities to train students so that they can specialize in display in the future.
There were also agreement ceremonies regarding collaboration between companies that supply materials, parts, and equipment and those that are in need of such materials, parts, and equipment.
“This will be an important opportunity for our country to be independent on key materials, parts, and equipment that we have been highly dependent on foreign countries.” said President Moon. “Green Optics, which has localized key display equipment by working with Samsung Display, has been a positive model from an aspect of being independent on key parts and equipment and from an aspect of collaboration between large companies and small and medium companies.”
Prior to the ceremony, President Moon visited Samsung Display’s production facilities and encouraged its executives and employees. He also met with employees from R&D department and heard explanations on next-generation displays such as foldable and stretchable displays.
Staff Reporter Bae, Okjin | withok@etnews.com & Staff Reporter Sung, Hyeonhee | sunghh@etnews.com