Three major Pilot Lines, which help SMEs take photonics technologies from lab into market, have been launched today by the Photonics Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Pilot Lines mean that thousands of high tech SMEs in Europe - who often lack access to advanced, cost-intensive infrastructures and expertise needed to manufacture new and innovative products – will be able to take their good ideas, scale-them up and validate them with the first customers for commercial production. The Pilot Lines will focus on health applications, flexible organic light-emitting diodes and sensors for the detection of chemicals in gas and liquids. 

Technavio analysts forecast the global automotive organic light-emitting diode (OLED) marketto post a CAGR of more than 14% by 2019, according to their latest report.

North American quantum dot manufacturer Quantum Materials announced that the company has entered into a joint venture with Guanghui Technology Group (“GTG”) whereas GTG will invest US $20 Million for building out Quantum Materials QDX™ quantum dot production facilities and quantum dots application development in China. Embedding quantum dot production regionally allows Quantum Materials to work closely with clients to customize quantum dot characteristics to optimize manufacturing efficiencies as well as supply chain logistics.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights Revenues of US $106.5 million, down 6% compared with the same period last year GAAP net loss per share of $0.25 and Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.01 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $4.4 million 

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will supply 2,000 existing and new homes from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MBRHE) project with 160,000 LED light bulbs and photovoltaic panels. The move aims to reduce the demand for energy as well as the long- and medium-term costs for electricity, the plan follows the signing of a MoU between DEWA and MBRHE in 2015.

PSCo are pleased to announce that they will be distributing Samsung’s much anticipated portfolio of LED in the UK and Ireland. PSCo have placed the first ever order for Samsung’s 1.5mm ultra fine pixel pitch LED as a demonstration unit for their Reading showroom, demonstrating their commitment to both Samsung and channel partners.

Osram is putting the focus on sustainable growth and wants to take even greater advantage of the potential offered by semiconductor-based lighting technologies. Prior to that, another important strategic step, the carve-out process of the general lighting lamps business, got under way. Given Osram’s strong financial standing, the company is proposing a dividend of €0.90 per share at Tuesday’s AGM. In parallel, Osram has in the meantime also started a share buyback program of up to €500 million.

At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), OSRAM Licht AG Chief Executive Olaf Berlien gave details of the innovation and growth initiative to the lighting company’s shareholders. “Everyone’s talking about digitalization – but we’re investing in it,” Berlien said in Munich on Tuesday. “Only those who navigate through the dramatically changing lighting industry decisively and with courage and speed can be successful.” Through this initiative, Osram is putting the focus on sustainable growth and wants to take even greater advantage of the potential offered by semiconductor-based lighting technologies. Prior to that, another important strategic step, the carve-out process of the general lighting lamps business, got under way. “The operational carve-out is planned as of April 1, while the legal carve-out is planned as of July 1,” said Berlien, confirming the timeline announced earlier.

The Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL) has installed more than 600,000 LED streetlights across several cities in India under the energy service company (Esco) model, said Saurabh Kumar, managing director of Energy Efficiency Service Limited, reported by Times of India.

TOGGLED®, developer and producer of next-generation solid-state lighting technology and named in the Top 25 Most Innovative Companies in South East Michigan by Crain's Detroit, reported today the addition of Mega Lighting to its rapidly expanding Licensing Program.

Two startups ComfyLight and BeOn, which are developers of smart LED lights targeting the home security market announced success in acquiring additional financing backing this week.

Southeast Asian country Bhutan is starting to implement nationwide LED lighting upgrades with financial assistance from Norway government, reported Asia News Network.

Taiwan’s largest LED manufacturer Epistar has sold its Duxing factory in Hsinchu Science Park to IC design manufacturer Mediatek for NT$ 736 million (US $21.98 million), reported CNA.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change announced in late January awardees of its second Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) Pilot auction.

India’s second largest online retailer Snapdeal has formed a partnership with the country’s state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) to sell LED bulbs nationwide for INR 99 (US $1.46), according to an Economic Times report.

Two weeks ahead of Valentines, GE published a heartbreaking online letter ending its long term relationship with CFL, while announcing its new passion for LEDs.The creatively written marketing stunt was highlighting an important announcement that GE will discontinue the manufacturing of CFL bulbs in the U.S. market, and shift its focus in the consumer lighting towards LED bulbs by the end of 2016.

With global crude oil prices crashing, the Middle East energy subsidies have also been swept away, reported The National Business.

Several Canadian municipalities are planning to invest CA $13 million (US $9.29 million) to replace 42,000 streetlights this year, reportedMetroland News.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh in India plans to replace traditional streetlights comprising of sodium, fluorescent and CFLs with LEDs, reported Dhaka Tribune.

Osram Licht AG's Malaysian unit, Osram Opto Semiconductors (M) Sdn Bhd, is setting up a research and development (R&D) center here to serve the general lighting and illumination sector in Asia.

The California Energy Commission adopted first-in-the-nation energy standards for the next generation of light bulbs. The standards cover small-diameter directional lamps, often used in track lighting, and general purpose light-emitting diodes - commonly called LEDs - used to replace typical existing home lighting.

Taiwanese LED manufacturer Everlight reported mixed results in several patent lawsuits rulings against Japanese manufacturer Nichia.

Nichia announced that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has issued a decision holding that Everlight Electronics and Everlight Americas (collectively, “Everlight”) have infringed three Nichia patents. The court upheld patent infringement claims that Nichia filed against Everlight in 2013.

On Jan. 26, 2016, Harvatek announced it has entrusted Devlin Law Firm LLC to represent it in a patent infringement case against Cree that has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California . The patent in suit is US 6,841,934.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) made history again today when it set minimum energy efficiency standards for small diameter directional light bulbs used for accent, spot and track lighting that will be the most stringent in the world. The reflector bulbs, which are less than 2.25 inches in diameter, are most commonly found in retail stores, museums, and hotels, and increasingly in new and remodeled homes.

In a company statement, former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) and founder of PlayNitride, Yun-Li (Charles) Lee has refuted GPI’s allegations of selling the company’s key technologies to Chinese LED manufacturer San’an Opto, reported TechNews.

Taiwanese LED epiwafer manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) has filed a lawsuit against its former Chief Technology Officer Yun-Li Lee for stealing and selling trade secrets to Chinese competitors, and applying acquired GPI technology in his startup company PlayNitride.

Saignaw, a city located in Michigan, U.S. has started to replace 6,400 city streetlights with LEDs, which is estimated to cost the city $ 1.8 million, reported MLive.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) called on the California Energy Commission (CEC) again today to ensure that California consumers have access to the most efficient, cost-effective, and preferred LED bulbs currently on the market. A proposal under consideration at the CEC that could be voted on as early as January 27, 2016, if approved, will be the first instance in which the CEC pursues regulatory action that will reduce potential energy savings, increase the cost of energy-saving products for California consumers, and make it less likely that California consumers will want to buy these products.

Revolution Lighting Technologies, a leader in advanced LED lighting technology solutions, announced it will partner with leading national distributor of electrical supplies and services, Rexel Holdings USA for the sale of its LED lighting solutions. Revolution Lighting's LED product to be offered by Rexel Holdings USA and its divisions, Rexel, Rexel Enery Solutions, Gexpro, Platt and Capitol Light to its customers within the industrial, residential and commercial markets.