Recently, J.H. Chang, manager of Technology Center for Service Industries under the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), backed by an official contract to lay a solid foundation under the "intelligent LED mood lighting sector" in Taiwan within four years, organized approximately 13 Taiwan-based manufacturers from all segments of the LED-lighting industry to form an alliance.

It’s reported that Neo-Neo Group will be the first Taiwan-based LED-lighting maker to be fully integrated-running manufacturing facilities to handle, from top to bottom, the entire production process in the LED industry, with moving to produce epitaxy wafers in September this year.

It’s reported that more than half of the 4.6 million 2-inch-equivalent sapphire wafers used for LED growth in 2007 were consumed by Taiwanese companies. The market for sapphire materials in electronic applications looks set to reach $400 million by 2012. Sapphire materials serve two main applications in the electronics field: GaN-based LEDs, and RF switch devices for mobile phones.

Macroblock, as a LED driver IC manufacturer will continue to showcase its technology breakthroughs realized in the new products for LED display and LED lighting fields at Macroblock booth A5.532 at Electronica 2008 from 11th to 14th November in Munich, Germany.

It’s reported that the event, its 34th cycle, unfolds at the brand new TWTC NANGANG Exhibition Hall from October 7 to 11. Asia’s largest electronics sourcing show is sponsored by TAITRA and the Taiwan Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (TEEMA) and features nearly a thousand exhibitors who are using 2,000 booths spread over 12 distinct theme zones.

It’s reported that Taiwan’s government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has teamed up with scores of LED makers to form an R&D alliance, in a bid to integrate industry resources to develop applications for AC LED technology.

On October 1, 2008, Korea Intellectual Property Tribunal ("KIPT") ruled that a patent, related to LED element, (Patent # KP 491482, hereinafter "'482 patent") owned by Nichia Corporation ("Nichia) is invalid based on lack of inventiveness.

Everlight, a leading manufacturer of LEDs and other Opto Semiconductors, has appointed Stephan Greiner as new Vice President Global Sales. Greiner will be responsible for the worldwide Sales Strategies. He brings 13 years of experience in Semiconductor sales. His last position was Senior Director Sales Europe and Emerging Markets (LAMEA) at Osram Opto Semiconductors. 

Recently, Luminus Devices and Everlight have each announced that their LEDs are powering new types of projectors. Luminus LEDs used in Samsung, LG projectors, Everlight starts shipping LEDs for micro projectors.

Neo-Neon is a traditional lighting and decorative lighting company with a three-decade long history in the lighting industry. It houses an approximate of 4,700 customers worldwide with presence extended to LED sector for 6-7 years. Neo-Neon currently produces about 600-700mn light bulbs per month with one-fifth of them as LED-powered. It also performs OEM production for leading brands.

It’s reported that AU Optronics Corp., the largest TFT-LCD panel manufacturer in Taiwan, has decided to restart an active matrix-organic light-emit diode (AM-OLED) research project in the fourth quarter after two years of suspension. B.D. Liu, vice president of AUO Technology Center, pointed out that his company plans to restart AM-OLED display development in the fourth quarter to meet the market demand.

Most LED companies, regardless which segment that they are coming from, records a flat 2Q08 performance amid seasonal weakness. A rapid expansion among global LED makers in 1H08 plus a weak demand that is suppressed by a relatively high price premium upon low performance, oversupply was seen, especially when the industry is in lack of a killer application to spur demand. This explains why LED makers mostly have their sales performance fail expectations in 1H08.

It’s reported that the sales of Taiwan's LED makers rose 16.1 percent in the first half of this year from the same period a year earlier. This is helped by the Beijing Olympics and higher energy prices that are encouraging the use of lower-cost lighting.

Applications of LED during the Beijing Olympics have raised audience's eyebrows. According to non-official statistics from China, the Beijing Olympics has consumed a total of 500mn RMB worth of LEDs at 36 stadiums, excluding other public lighting applications that are installed at the Olympics villages and parks. But as Olympics grand completed, concerns about whether there exists a fundamental demand for LED surfaces.

Recently, Delta Electronics, Inc., a long-time industry leader in DLP® optics, light engine and projector development for a wide variety of applications, announced it has completed the development of a groundbreaking full HD LED projector for the consumer market.

It’s reported that Lite-On Technology Corp., a world leading supplier of mobile keypads, is venturing into the LEDchip market by investing US$10 million in SemiLEDs Corp., a U.S. producer of high-power LED chips.

According to Edward Po, general manager of Philips Taiwan Ltd.-Lighting Division, Philips Lighting will likely subcontract LED lighting manufacturing to Taiwan when it begins volume production of the products.

Recently, Dongbu HiTek announced the joint development of an LED driver chip for Back Light Unit (BLU) applications in laptop computers. Developed in collaboration with ADDtek, a Taiwanese fabless company specializing in analog and mixed-signal chip solutions, the new LED driver designed by Taiwan-Based ADDtek uses Dongbu HiTek’s specialized BCDMOS (Bipolar CMOS DMOS) process at the 0.35-Micron Node.

It’s reported that Chuang Hsiang Technology Co., Ltd. makes traditional automotive side mirrors more functional and attractive by adding LED signal lights on them. Chuang Hsiang Technology Co., Ltd. is a very innovative company, after it gained a solid foothold in the LED mirror business, the firm has also innovated the LED door handles to revolutionize the market.

Recently, Obducat, the Sweden-based supplier of NanoImprint Lithography (NIL) and Electron Beam Lithography systems, has received an order from Luxtaltek Corporation, a Tawian-based LED maker.

It’s reported that Epistar Corp. will increase production of LED because of orders from China following the Beijing Olympics.

It’s reported that Delta Electronics Inc. plans to invest in the LED industry by the end of the year.LEDs are semiconductors used to illuminate liquid- crystal televisions, street lights and music players. Delta, based in Taipei, is the world's largest maker of power systems for computers and games machines.Delta will start manufacturing the LEDs to secure supply of the components.

The use of LEDs for the backlight's light source has created new business opportunities in the maturing NB panel market. In contrast to CCFLs, white LEDs provide higher color saturation and are mercury-free and less power-consuming--making them more environmentally friendly.   

ARC Solid-State Lighting, provider of LED driver and controller, announces a new LED lighting controller-MINI Controller CA3001, the control capacity of 3-channels RGB full color is extremely favorable for Lighting Embellishing of Shop Widows and Products Showcases to create amazing lighting effects and romantic atmospheres easily.  Having both control and driving capacities but it is truly simple to install.

Recently, Aixtron announced an order from Formosa Epitaxy Inc. for further six CRIUS Close Coupled Showerhead MOCVD systems received in the first quarter of 2008. This order for our CRIUS CCS tools confirms the exceptional capabilities in the design and operation of these systems.Formosa Epitaxy Inc., one of Taiwan’s leading manufacturers of ultra high brightness LEDs, will use the systems for volume production of GaN-based UHB LEDs.

It's reported that Taiwan industry watchers estimated the on-going Beijing Olympic Games to give a big boost to the LED lighting industry from the huge number of LED lamps in conjunction with the energy-conservation tone lighting up magnificent games monuments, public utilities, main roads, and traffic lights in the Chinese capital city.

Recently, at Rubicon Technology’s 2Q08 earnings conference call with industry analysts, the company's president and CEO discussed the future of the LED market. 

GlacialTech Inc today announces the availability of BR40 Light Emitting Diode (LED) light – the LED-BR40 Globes come in three model which range in brightness from low, to medium to high. The LED BR40 bulbs are designed to replace the equivalent 80W BR40 globes and lamps available in markets today. Using lower wattage compared with the original product, 840Lux for the high brightness globe at a distance of 1m.

Recently, the Executive Yuan, Taiwan’s Cabinet, announced it would replace all the island’s incandescent-type traffic lights with LED lamps in three years, and replace all the incandescent lamps currently serving throughout the island with energy-saving lamps in four years. Taiwan government’s energy-conservation policy will give a big boost to the island’s energy-saving lamp industry, in which many manufacturers have planned to begin volume production or sheer shipment some time this quarter.

It's reported Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Arima Optoelectronics has stressed that its finances and operations remain healthy despite heavy losses in 1Q.The company saw its June sales drop 59% on year to NT$104 million, with a net loss of NT$82 million for the month. It posted net losses of NT$124 million for the first quarter of 2008. It attributed the poor results to the spinning off its laser diode business last August, and fierce pricing amid weak demand.