LED leading the way
By Lily

对海内外著名光电企业, 厦门如何"筑巢引凤", 同时进一步扩展自己的拳头企业及产品? 厦门怎样率先成为中国半导体照明产业集聚区和产业协调发展示范区? 目前我国半导体照明工程在世界所处的地位及发展前景如何? 参加第二届世界半导体照明产业论坛的部分领导、专家畅所欲言, 各抒己见.


Xu Mo, Vice Mayer of Xiamen
徐模, 厦门市副市长

An intensive industry cluster is very important for our optoelectronics
According to Vice Mayor Xu Mo, an early start, attention to detail and a complete industry chain are the three factors which attribute to the remarkable achievements in Xiamen's optoelectronics, which jumped to the fourth top pillar industry behind the electronics, machinery and chemical industries. As one of the cities in China to make the quickest response to the potential demand of the future lighting market, Xiamen has started fostering a complete industry chain very early. Currently, a mature network covering circuit boards and chips from the high-end to applied white LED products from the low-end is fully equipped. More and more domestic and foreign enterprises can easily find a suitable site with favorable conditions to start or further develop their business here. Everything from designing, R&D, material, chips, packaging, testing and applied markets are already there.

Despite all these advantages, the enterprises involved in optoelectronics are rather scattered in Haicang, Huli and Jimei districts and find it hard to use their sci-tech superiorities cooperatively. Now the municipal government is consciously leading them to adjust their industrial structure by integrating the existing 46 Industry Zones into 14. Signified by Siming Optoelectronic Park, Torch Optoelectronic Park and the future Xiang'an Lighting Park, Xiamen will effectively give the reins to their respective strong points covering different ranges, thus creating a model of enhancing a crosswise connection of individuals and groups.

In line with the municipal overall plan for 2004-2010, Xiamen, by 2010, will see a total industry value of 20 billion yuan in LED, and 15 billion in OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode).

More research support will be given to develop white LED and relevant materials and application projects. To achieve this goal, the government is considering setting up a public "platform" to provide scientific testing support with the help of research institutes and universities from at home and abroad. Apart from this, applied LED products including digital displays, large LCDs, back-lights, digital microscope lights, traffic lights, and lawn lights etc, will be specially promoted. On the way to building Xiamen into a city of science, optoelectronics plays a vital role of "bellwether". For the time being, San'an Elec, Hualian Elec and Topstar are some of the major enterprises propped up by the Xiamen municipality. Besides the traditional products like InfraRed LED lights, Ultra-Violet LED lights and white LED lights, more products like CMOS, CCD, Memory Stick, Smart Media etc, will be developed. The conventional lighting products are mostly dominated by energy-saving lamps, topping the first in quality and exports from China, accounting for 10% of the global output, which has laid a solid foundation for LED application and the market.

LED, as the most promising and potential industry for Xiamen, in the next five years will be greatly recommended and applied to enterprises. Eventually, an industry cluster focusing on white LED and other applied technical projects will be set up and integrated into the National Semiconductor Solid-state Lighting Project Industrialization Base.


Kong Shuguang, Vice head of Xiamen Science and Technology Bureau
孔曙光, 厦门市科技局副局长

Decrease risk and maintain sustainable development
When we entered his office, Mr Kong Shu guang was studying a delicate night-lamp on his table which resembled a wonderful combination of modern and classical styles. "It's one of the newest series specially designed for the coming International Solid-state Forum and Fair by Topstar, a leading optoelectronic mid-end enterprise in Xiamen."

Xiamen actually doesn't possess superiority over other optoelectronic bases in China who also strived to hold this grand meeting. Xiamen, though with a limited development space compared with some "bigger" competitors, has advantages such as the profound scientific and technological support from many institutes. No matter how small we were at the very beginning, we were determined to explore and establish a totally integrated industry chain, covering all sorts of products from high-end chips to low-end applied lighting appliances. Although somewhat complicated at first, now its effect and strength can be seen. Not only have we set up a complete industry chain which radiates to neighboring cities such as Quanzhou, Fuzhou, and Zhangzhou, but also we have attracted more and more potential enterprises from home and abroad. Currently, over ten factories in neighboring cities have been awarded the Key Enterprise of Optoelectronics by the Xiamen National Base, which, in the long-run will cast a wider span of coordinative development. The represented enterprises on the mid and low end in connection with applied energy-saving products are Hualian and Topstar. In addition to these domestic forces, two of the world's largest three optoelectronic groups, GE and Philips have already established their plants here in Xiamen. It's no wonder that an entrepreneur wouldn't hesitate to invest in Xiamen seeing the mature and integrated support covering all chains of optoelectronics from raw materials, high-end R&D to the market and applications.

Nevertheless, we should never neglect the fact that, with all the inspiring achievements of a breakthrough in 2004-an annual output and income in excess of 100 billion yuan in the high-tech industry, the local enterprises still lack power to protect themselves against risks and maintain a sustainable development. Should the high-end joint-ventures and enterprises withdraw their investments from Xiamen, we dare not say that we wouldn't suffer a blow and suffer a little. A reliable state-sponsored public sci-tech platform should be set up at the earliest possible time to provide local optoelectronic enterprise support and service. By jointly utilizing advanced testing equipment which requires large amounts of money, many small and middle-sized enterprises could decrease their risk and put their limited capital directly into applied areas. Besides this, they can also share information offered by the platform and exchange their respective experiences, thus promoting a better industry circulation and advance ceaselessly at a professional level.

Although this idea is still somewhat controversial, Mr Kong firmly believes that in the next few years, Xiamen will no doubt become the nation's model optoelectronic base with this second International Forum and Fair on Solid-state Lighting being a good opportunity and turning point.

What is OLED?



Organic light-emitting diode. The diodes in displays made with OLEDs emit light when a voltage is applied to them. The pixel diodes are selectively turned on or off to form images on the screen. This kind of display can be brighter and more efficient than current LCD displays.



OLED, Organic Light Emitting Diode, 有机发光二极管. OLED显示技术与传统的LCD显示方式不同, 无需背光灯, 采用非常薄的有机材料涂层和玻璃基板, 当有电流通过时, 这些有机材料就会发光. 而且OLED显示屏幕可以做得更轻更薄, 视角更大, 能显著节省电能.
自2003年开始正式有厂家把OLED技术应用在数码相机、手机等数字产品的显示屏幕上. 这也能看出OLED在移动产品上正在赶超LCD的产品.