Corporate - News

May 2004

MED Joins Forces With Optocap

Two young Scottish technology companies are working together in a move that will help boost Scotland ’s optoelectronics industry.

The company that made global headlines by creating the world’s smallest television screen has become the first commercial customer of Optocap Ltd. MicroEmissive Displays Ltd (MED) is using the services of Optocap’s £4 million centre to support the design and testing of the manufacturing process for its latest device.

Securing the MED project underlines the ability of Optocap to help small optoelectronics companies bridge the gap between research, design and bringing a product to the market place. MED is a spin-out from Edinburgh and Napier Universities formed in 1999 with the aim of becoming a leading provider of microdisplays for portable consumer electronic goods.

Head quartered at the Scottish Microelectronics Centre at Edinburgh University, MED is now recognised as a world-leading developer of light-emitting-polymer based microdisplays. Used in everyday products such as camcorders and mobile phones MED’s displays are lightweight, relatively inexpensive and run on low power. MED’s tiny television screen, measuring 3.84mm by 2.88mm and smaller than a fingernail, caused a stir in the global optoelectronics industry opening up numerous possibilities in the development of communications.

Its latest device, the ME3203 colour microdisplay is currently under evaluation at several of the world’s biggest camera, camcorder and mobile phone manufacturers and Optocap Ltd will now assist in the design of its volume manufacturing process.

Bill Campbell, Chief Exec utive Officer of MED, commented: “The arrival of Optocap and its range of services is an important step in supporting the growth of Scotland ’s optoelectronics sector. Young companies such as ourselves require this kind of assistance in our efforts to design and develop the breakthrough technology that will place Scotland at the forefront of this increasingly important communications sector.”

David Ruxton, Chief Executive of Optocap Ltd, said: “MicroEmmissive Displays is a world-leader in its field and we are excited and delighted at having them as a client. This is precisely the type of collaboration envisaged to help young companies achieve their potential by helping them bring their devices and products to market ready status.”

Neil Francis, director of the Scottish Enterprise MOCT cluster, commented: “Optoelectronics is an increasingly important technology in today’s world of instant communication. Scotland has a growing reputation for its excellent research in the sector. Optocap’s packaging centre provides a vital link in the chain of helping existing companies such as MED to develop their devices and bring them to the market place.”