Nurturing LED Convergence Technology

Government, academic and industry circles join forces to support the development of LED convergence technology
























The light-emitting diode (LED) industry is emerging as a force behind the convergence of the IT industry designed to reinvigorate regional economies, as a measure that goes beyond eco-friendliness.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) has decided to foster Gwangju, the home of Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KPTI), as one of the world's top-three photonics industrial hubs for overall photonics and LED industries as well as inaugurate three LED convergence technology support centers in three metropolitan areas ¡ª the Gwanggyo Center at the Korea Advanced National Fab Center (KANC), the Gyeongsan Center at Yeungnam University and the Chonbuk Center at Chonbuk National University, said Lee Seung-woo, director of IT & electronics policy at the MKE.
About 100 people including central and local government policymakers and those in the LED and other related industries assembled at the KANC in Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province, on Jan. 28 for a joint ceremony to inaugurate the three centers.
Among those on hand were MKE Minister Lee Youn-ho, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo, Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, KANC Chairman Park Sang-dae, KANC President Ko Chul-gi and Yeungnam University President Lee Hyo-soo.
The central government, local governments, KPTI, academic and industry circles will join forces in implementing such programs as human resources development related to the applications of LED and technology development projects via the centers, said Lee Seung-woo, director at the Information & Electronics Industries Division at the MKE. Making the most of the LED industry foundation of each region, the centers will provide such integrated services for corporate support as human resources development, technology development and the enhancement of reliability, he said.
To this end, 19.6 billion won, including central government support, will be funneled into the operation of the centers during 2009. The fund will total 76.5 billion won during the five-year period between 2009 and 2013.
MKE Minister Lee said, "A combination of LED and such diverse areas as IT, medical and agricultural sectors will create value-added spill-over effects, so it is significant for the support centers to build a bridge that will evolve each region's strengths in specialized areas into the improved competitive edge of the Korean LED industry." The government plans to translate the LED industry development strategy plan into projects to develop original technologies, cultivate expert manpower and create the LED technology convergence market without a hitch, he said.
The minister said it plans to harmonize the reality and future direction of the LED industry as it comes to the standardization of products in a sincere and fast manner.
KANC President Ko said the three support centers are designed to enhance the competitiveness of the LED industry.
Industry officials said the support centers are expected to promote the commercialization of LED technologies and set a turning point in connecting LED and other industries, and they expect the support centers to contribute to the development of working-level engineers and high-caliber R&D manpower.
With the inauguration of the support centers, the domestic LED convergence market is expected to see a boost in sales and ease the shortage of manpower facing the LED industry through the development of human resources. For instance, the replacement of incandescent lamps with LED lamps for cultivating strawberries, green perilla and chrysanthemums would see LED makers post approximately 174 billion won, in addition to about 250 billion won in sales for LED lamps used for plant farms and sterilization.
The Gwanggyo LED Convergence Technology Support Center plans to cultivate 360 experts annually by 2013 through courses at the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology Integrated Science and Technology Graduate School and hands-on LED education. Currently, the application area takes up a large portion of the global LED market. The value of the global LED market is forecast to surge from $13 billion in 2008 to $22.6 billion in 2012. The value of the whole global LED market is estimated at $21.4 billion during 2008, including $5.19 billion for the LED materials market and $3.56 billion for the LED lighting market.
The value of the domestic LED application market is valued at an estimated 1.6 trillion won in 2008, and the combination of LED technology and such industries as shipbuilding, medical and automobile fields are predicted to contribute to driving "green growth," MKE officials said. nw

Minister of Knowledge Economy Lee Youn-ho, Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Moon-soo and other dignitaries take a look at light-emitting diode (LED) products on display at the Korea Advanced National Fab Center (KANC) in Gyeonggi Province on Jan. 28. (below) MKE Minister Lee speaks during a ceremony to inaugurate the LED center.


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