Smartkem and Chip Foundation team up to advance display innovation
Smartkem, known for its organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), is taking a concrete step toward rethinking display performance through a new partnership. The company has signed a joint development agreement with a semiconductor giant to co-develop microLED-based backlight technology for liquid crystal displays. The aim is clear: better backlights that raise performance and trim losses.
What the joint development covers
Under the agreement, Smartkem will supply its proprietary organic dielectric single-layer material, referred to as the Redistribution Layer (RDL). This material will be integrated with Chip Foundation’s microLED devices to enable new device structures that bring the two toolkits together. In parallel, Smartkem will develop insulator materials designed to improve the miniLED package that integrates multiple microLEDs in series.
Targets for performance and efficiency
The technical goals are straightforward: high brightness with higher current efficiency. Together, these are intended to reduce power loss within backlights and improve uniform illumination across displays. By combining Smartkem’s materials with Chip Foundation’s device processes, the partners are focusing on the specific, demanding needs of today’s display makers.
What leadership is saying
Ian Jenks, Smartkem’s Chairman and CEO, voiced confidence in the agreement, calling it a chance to prove the value of Smartkem’s dielectric materials inside the display industry. He also noted that this follows a technology agreement previously set with a research institution in Taiwan, underscoring the company’s steady push to move its technology from lab to line.
Chip Foundation’s view
Dr. Maosheng Hao, Chairman of Chip Foundation, emphasized how the company’s microLED processes align with Smartkem’s materials. In his view, pairing expertise in organic semiconductors with Smartkem’s solutions can accelerate progress and support broader use of microLED technology.
Smartkem’s role in the shift to new displays
Smartkem’s core technologies reach beyond microLED. The company’s patented TRUFLEX semiconductor and dielectric inks are designed for low-temperature printing, which helps reduce production costs and lift performance compared to conventional approaches. That combination points to a practical path for the next wave of displays.
Progress across multiple display types
Smartkem continues to work across AMOLED, miniLED, and microLED technologies. Because the materials are versatile, their use can extend across a range of electronics, from televisions to smart devices, as designs evolve and new form factors surface.
Where the work gets done
Smartkem’s R&D and manufacturing are based in the UK and Taiwan. These locations anchor the company’s semiconductor process development and provide a foundation for ongoing collaboration and scale-up.
A growing patent base
Smartkem holds 125 granted patents across 19 families. The portfolio reflects a sustained focus on protecting its semiconductor and materials advances.
Looking ahead
With Chip Foundation as a partner, Smartkem is positioned to push backlight technology forward for LCDs. The collaboration centers on tangible gains in display performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness—practical improvements that align with Smartkem’s goal of reshaping how displays are made and used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Smartkem and Chip Foundation working on together?
They’ve entered a joint development agreement to co-develop microLED-based backlight technology for liquid crystal displays, with a focus on better performance and efficiency.
Which materials are central to this project?
Smartkem is providing its proprietary organic dielectric single-layer material, the Redistribution Layer (RDL), to be integrated with Chip Foundation’s microLED devices.
What performance improvements are they targeting?
The partners are aiming for high brightness and increased current efficiency to cut power loss in backlights and improve uniform illumination across displays.
How does this fit into Smartkem’s broader strategy?
It showcases Smartkem’s dielectric materials in the display industry and follows a technology agreement with a research institution in Taiwan, reinforcing the company’s push to advance its technology.
Where else is Smartkem applying its technology?
Beyond microLED, Smartkem’s TRUFLEX semiconductor and dielectric inks support low-temperature printing for displays across AMOLED, miniLED, and microLED applications.
