This week U.S. President Barrack Obama scales up nationwide LED streetlight upgrade plan, aiming for conversion of 1.5 million streetlights. Things don’t look too bright for Cree, as the company slashes 300 contract worker jobs. Philips is also facing a challenging year ahead, as the company’s 4Q14 revenue falls short of expectations, despite its LED business reporting consistent growth. On the bright side, Taiwanese and Chinese LED manufacturers have cast a fairly optimistic outlook for 2015, while Korean electronic company LG has made new breakthroughs in OLED technology.

Everlight Chairman Robert Yeh issued a statement clarifying a recently misleading Taiwan media report that claimed the company was abandoning the LED tube and bulb market.

Chinese sapphire manufacturer Roshow Technology reported plummeting net profits in 2014, according to a company announcement on Jan. 29, 2015.

Nobel laureate Charles Townes, who was awarded the prestigious science award in 1964 for the invention of lasers has died at the age of 99, according to The Guardian report.

Engineers have shone new light on an emerging family of solar-absorbing materials that could clear the way for cheaper and more efficient solar panels and LEDs.

Global LED manufacturer Lighting Science Group Corporation announced today that Daniel Horan has been appointed Executive Vice President of Sales. Horan brings a strong track record of proven sales and strategies to guide the company’s expansion of global retail and on-line sales capabilities. He will be playing a key role in bringing Lighting Science’s innovative LED product assortment - ranging from biologically correct lighting for home and work to retail and commercial applications - into the hands of the global consumer through these critical channels.

U.S. LED manufacturer Cree utilized its monopoly in high power LED chip technology to develop ceramic package LEDs, just shortly after China’s LED package industry ventured into the display backlight market in 2008. Cree went on to dominate the outdoor lighting market and other high end applications, while setting new luminous efficacy records.

Dutch lighting conglomerate Philips has announced plans of spinning off its OLED business, according to a report by OLED-info.

Latest research from Netherlands Health Council indicate there are certain health risks associated to blue lights emitted by LEDs, and further investigations are required, reported NL Times.

Urban Barns Foods ("Urban Barns"), an innovative food producer dedicated to growing consistent, healthy and fresh vegetables year round using its proprietary Cubic Farming™ method, is pleased to provides its shareholders with an update on its research and development (R&D) activities at McGill University.

Iluminage Beauty, a company that manufactures LED light therapy devices for beauty and cosmetic applications, today announced the appointment of George Cleary as the company's new Chief Executive Officer.

Agostino Renna, President and CEO of GE Lighting for Europe, The Middle East and Africa, shares in this blog entry how LED streetlights can offer so much more than just light.

Chinese LED manufacturer Nationstar Chairman of the Supervisory Juyi Tsai has further sold his shares in the company.

Taiwan’s LED component industry market value is expected to grow 14% in 2015, according to estimates by Taiwan’s Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA).

As an emerging industry, the LED market has received a lot of attention from investors, especially listed LED companies, according to a hc360.com report. The following wealth listing, is based on listed LED manufacturers market value, share value, and founder company shares.

Group Financials have been restated as of the fourth quarter of 2014 and for prior periods to show the results of the combined businesses of Lumileds and Automotive as discontinued operations in connection with the process of attracting third-party investors.

LG Chem announced today that it achieved two important milestones in the development of OLED lighting products with the start of manufacturing of the 320 x 320 mm OLED light panel, the world’s largest available in the market, and the completion of the research and development phase for a new plastic-based OLED light panel.

ALKILU Enterprises, an emerging leader in affordable OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) Lighting products for consumers, today announced that is has signed a formal partnership with Visionox, a high-tech enterprise specializing in the mass development and manufacturing of OLED technology in China with integration of R&D, as well as marketing and sales. The announcement coincides with ALKILU’s attendance and sponsorship of the OLED’s World Summit 2014 in Berkeley, California, U.S.

The Super Bowl XLIX to kick off at University of Phonex Stadium this Sunday will be putting on a show in a different light, according to a News and Observer report.

Aurora Opto, a sapphire manufacturer based in Harbin in Northern China, recently released its financial reports, and estimated earnings for 2015.

Growing downstream demands contributed to the rebounding LED industry market, according to a Sina.com report. Twelve out of 15 listed Chinese LED manufacturers reported high growths in 2014, while only three companies reported sliding revenues.

NVC Lighting, which has suspended trade on the Chinese bourse, recently appointed Wang Donglei as the company’s official CEO, according to a report by Chinese media Tencent.

Chinese LED manufacturer Silan Microelectronics (Silan) recently announced net profits soared in 2014 by 30% to 50% compared to the same period in 2013.

A Taiwanese LED factory located in Taoyuan City in Northern Taiwan erupted in flames at 4 PM on Monday, according to a report by Apple Daily.

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index increased 1.9 percent from the second to the third quarters of 2014, climbing to its highest level to date in calendar year 2014.  The index posted a gain of 4.1 percent on a year-over-year basis. Shipments of emergency lighting, fixtures, and miniature lamps improved during the quarter; however, ballast and large lamp shipments fell.

A recruiting and staffing firm for Cree has laid off 319 contract workers that work for the LED company in Durham, North Carolina, U.S., according to a news & observer report.

Universal Display, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, and LG Display, the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, today announced the signing of a new OLED Technology License Agreement and Supplemental Material Purchase Agreement. The agreements run through December 31, 2022.

Scientifically-driven indoor growing solutions poised to transform marijuana industry with long-term promise to improve sustainability of global food production. ILS positioned to become leader in indoor grow light industry projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2020.

Enterprises lack of market competitiveness, has contributed to Japan’s long economic slump, according to a Shanghai Stock Information Service report. The number of patent applications slid since reaching a pinnacle in 2000. The main cause has been the very little recognition and compensation Japanese employees have been receiving for their important inventions. Amendments to existing patent laws are expected to further aggravate the situation.

Taiwanese LED manufacturer Everlight has made its way into the global top five manufacturers, having finally joined the US$ 1 billion revenue club in 2014, according to a cnYes.com report.