OPTOLINK Q2, 2010

13

OptoLink International Edition (OLIE)

Contents
is a quarterly magazine published
by the Photonics Industry and Industry News
Technology Development
Association (PIDA). 6 Eco TW - TPE
10 Eco TW - KHH
13 Taiwanese Troops behind Apple's iPad
5F., No. 9, Roosevelt Road, Sec. 2.,
Taipei, Taiwan, 10093. 16 The Current Development of Taiwan PV Application
www.pida.org.tw
Tel.: +886-2-2396-7780
Fax: +886-2-2341-4559
Exhibition Watch
PFT & Display Taiwan 2010 Bring on the Best of
20 Taiwan Photonics Industry
Publisher:
Frank Ma, CEO of PIDA From Green Photonics to Low Carbon Society -
Editorial Team: 26 International Green Photonics Forum will be held by
Angel Chiou, Dan Guo, PIDA
Murphy Lin, Stephy Chen,
Illuminating a World of Opportunity - Photonics in
Karen Ho, Deaphne Kuo,
Jason Lu, Emily Hu
28 Canada
Scottish Optoelectronics Association - Supporting
Art Designer: 37 Optoelectronics in Scotland
Real

Director of Market & Company Profiles

Bussiness Division:
Ryan Chung
41 BOE Looking Ahead to a Greener Economy
Sales Contact:
Ginger Chen, Allen Lee,
44 TTRI to Perfectly Integrate Technology and Textile
Pamela Hsiao,
Cathy Zhang, Ben Tsai,
Henry Nieh, Jerry Lee

Advertising: http://www.pida.org.tw/olie/
Christine Chen
ad@mail.pida.org.tw

Subscriptions:
Simon Huang
simon@mail.pida.org.tw

Editorial Submissions:
Angel Chiou
(angelchiou@mail.pida.org.tw)
08 21 30
 INDUSTRY NEWS

Tales of Two Cities—

New Looks of an ECO TAIWAN

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 7

INDUSTRY NEWS
Taipei— A City Showing its
By Dan Guo
A
nyone who is familiar with Taipei will
notice the changes Taipei has been through
in recent years. Not only served as the
political center of Taiwan, Taipei is working
its way to become a greener city for all its citizens.
From the public construction, the world-renowned
101 skyscraper, the International Flora Exposition, to
the new street lights, a green image of Taipei is taking
shape.
The followings are a few landmarks demonstrating
the transitions of Taipei in becoming a new “eco city.”
Taipei Public Library Beitou
Branch
Beitou has been famous for its hot spring for
a long time, and now it has a new landmark – the
public library. With its ecological and aesthetic
design, Beitou branch of the Taipei Public Library has
earned the name of “Taiwan’s first ‘green’ library.”
Awarded “Diamond” from Taiwan’s EEWH Green
Fig.1 Beitou branch of the Taipei Public Library
Courtesy: PIDA
8 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
Building certification, the Beitou branch is designed
with environment-friendly architecture. It is a two-
story building constructed with wooden structure
that looks like a tree house. The Beitou branch plays
an important role in improving the environment with
energy and water saving efforts. Its roof is equipped
with a rainwater collection system that helps conserve
water by gathering rainfall, which is then used to
flush the library’s toilets. The lightweight material of
the roof and solar panels are designed to use solar
energy, which in turn generates electricity for the
library.
The facility provides over 20,000 books of various
languages, among them Chinese and English are the
two mostly used. Visitors can peruse at their leisure.
Aside from its brilliant design on consideration of
ecological conservation, the library is worth visiting
for its architectural uniqueness.
The entire building, including the walls, stairways
and furniture, are all made of wood. Large French

s Green Perspecve
windows on all four sides let the sunlight and warm
breeze in and helps cut electricity usage and enhance
the existing spaciousness of the library. Come visit
the public library, for enriching your body and soul
with an ecological experience.
2010 Taipei International Flora
Exposition
The 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition
(the 2010 Taipei Int’l Flora Expo) is set to open on
November 6th, 2010 in Taipei. It will be the first such
internationally recognized exposition to take place
in Taipei. Featuring a theme of “Rivers, Flowers,
New Horizons,” the Expo will include 14 exhibition
pavilions spread across an area of 91.8 hectares.
The exhibition pavilions are poised to showcase
notable achievements in horticulture, science, and
environmental protection technology. According to
the organizer, its aim is to inspire visitors to embrace
new ideas and implement green practices for
Fig.2 Illustrated views of exposition pavilions in the 2010 Taipei Int’l Flora Expo
Courtesy: 2010 Taipei Int’l Flora Expo
INDUSTRY NEWS
themselves, thereby achieving the goal of protecting
our precious Earth in all its unique beauty.
Three new expo pavilions designed specifically
for the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition—
“Pavilion of Future,” “Pavilion of Life” and “Pavilion
of Dream” are built by Chang Ching-hwa, the same
architect who designed the Beitou branch of the
Taipei Public Library. As stated by Taipei City Mayor
Hau Lung-bin, the architect adopted large amount
of reusable materials and new construction methods
for the pavilions, seeking to obtain green building
certificates for them. For example, the pavilions are
also powered by solar panels – making them the city’s
largest energy-saving facility.
Chang said she seeks to create an environment
where people and spaces can interact harmoniously.
To achieve this goal, she kept the height of the halls
lower than surrounding trees, populated the rooftops
and walls with vegetations, and rearranged the trails
within the park so tourists can walk to the top of the
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
Fig.3 Night scene of Taipei 101
Courtesy: Taipei City Government Information Office
roof – a great place for plane spotting.
Taipei 101 Vying for Tallest Green
Building
The Taipei 101 skyscraper is applying for LEED
Gold certification as part of efforts to make it the
tallest green building in the world. According to
Taipei Financial Center Corp., the operator of
Taipei 101, Taipei 101 has been undergoing many
changes recently, with a total of US$1.89 million
invested for installing LED lights and adjusting its air
conditioning systems.
Although Taipei 101 has receded its “the world’s
tallest skyscraper” crown to the Burj Dubai, now
Taipei 101 is aiming to be the Earth’s greenest
building. The owners of Taipei 101 are teaming up
with SL+A International Asia Inc., Siemens and
EcoTech International Inc. to complete the eco-
upgrades.
Besides upgrades to the major energy systems
used inside the building for heating, cooling and
ventilation, lighting will be upgraded, and food in
the restaurants will be more efficiently used to avoid
waste. Other improvements include low-e glass, waste
recycling, a gray water system and building energy
management.
10 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
The Taipei Financial Center Corporation expects
Taipei 101 to become “the paradigm in the energy-
saving effort.”
National Chiang Kai Shek
Memorial Hall illuminated by
Everlight
As a major tourist site in Taipei city, the National
Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall was built as
a memento for the former President of the Republic
of China named Chiang Kai-shek. This monument
is surrounded by a park, a large square that also
includes the National Concert Hall and National
Theater. In echoing the eco concept promoted by
the Taipei City government, the CKS Memorial Hall
works its way to save energy and to reduce carbon
emission by switching to LED lighting.
Sponsored by Everlight, the CKS Memorial Hall
has replaced its 456 traditional lamps surrounding the
monument into LED lamps. Everlight provides high
quality and durable LED chips and accompanying
fixtures to do the makeover before the Chinese New
Year 2010. With the new LED lighting upgrades,
the CKS Memorial Hall has been given a more eco
look than ever. It also serves to demonstrate the LED
industry strength of the Taiwan photonics industry.
 INDUSTRY NEWS

LED Lights in 228 Peace Memorial

Park
In order to reflect the industr y’s need to
commercialize the LED, as well as to put into effect
the Energy-Saving and Carbon-Reduction Action
Plan, Taiwan’s central and local governments
collaborated with a number of industry players.
This led to an announcement in December 2008 to
set up three exclusive demonstration areas, making
it abundantly clear that the government wants to
nurture the LED industry.
The three demonstration areas are located
in Taipei city and include 228 Peace Memorial
Park, Fuzhou Street and Nanyiang Street and its
neighborhood. In 228 Peace Memorial Park, an LED
lighting landscape, plus a garden control system and Fig.4 The CKS Memorial Hall with LED lamps
p
Courtesy: Everlight
accessories, were adopted to showcase the impressive
grand sight down at Kaidagelan Boulevard. Around
Fuzhou Street, LED outdoor street bulbs were used
to light up the roadway. In the neighborhood of
Nanyiang Street LED lighting fixture were designed
to beam down on the paving.

Fig.5 LED lighting demonstration

Courtesy: PIDA

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Fig. 1 Asia’s largest PV tourist boat made its debut on Love River, Kaohsiung.
Courtesy: Transportation Bureau, Kaohsiung City
Kaohsiung— Green Fu-
ture, Eco Metropolis
By Angel Chiou
K
nown as the Harbor Capital of Taiwan,
Kaohsiung City is one of the earliest
developed places in Taiwan history and
is the second largest city on the island.
Kaohsiung was once famous for its export processing
and industrial development, which leads to quite
amount of CO2 emission in the city. With years of
Kaohsiung City Government’s efforts, Kaohsiung
has been successfully transformed into a modern
metropolis, as well as a greener city.
Tourist Boats on Love River
In early February, the largest solar boat in
Asia made its shiny debut on the Love River,
Kaohsiung. The solar tourist boat makes its appeal to
environmental friendliness by replacing petrol with
12 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
solar energy and the reducing energy consumption
up to 3/4 of the conventional petrol-driven boats.
The solar boat can carry 36 passengers and feature
no pollution and low noise. The PV modules that are
installed on the boat’s roof provide an additional 25%
energy saving on an average sunny day. According to
Kwo-Tsai Wang, Director-general of Transportation
Bureau, Kaohsiung City, the sunshine hour in
Kaohsiung is up to 2,072 hours per year. After 9-hour
sunlight exposure, the boat can cruise over 9 hours
with its six full-charged ecological lithium batteries.
Although the solar boat costs 7.47 million NTD, it
also saves Kaohsiung City Government 30 thousand
NTD for petrol per month. Kaohsiung government
has decided to invest 37 million NTD to build five
solar boats and phase out the conventional boats.
 INDUSTRY NEWS

Fig.2 Kaohsiung Arena under construction.

Courtesy: Construction Office, Public Works Bureau, Kaohsiung
City Government

Featuring power-saving and environment-friendly,

the solar boat presents one of the best example that
combines photovoltaic technology and application.

Kaohsiung Arena
Built in 2004, Kaohsiung Arena is a multi-
functional gymnasium with a seating capacity of
15,000 spectators that meets citizens’ needs in sports
games, performances, exhibitions, and recreation.
The arena cooperated with the “Green Building
Program” from the Executive Yuan to accord with
the 4 indicators of green buildings— water resource,
Fig.3 Kaohsiung World Game Stadium is the most
daily energy saving, indoor environment, and sewage
notable green landmark in Kaohsiung
and sold waste. The roof of the arena installed Courtesy: Kaohsiung Organizing Committee (KOC)
photovoltaic panels that generate 4,400 kW per year
for the arena to use. Also, the rainwater catchment
system on the roof has 1,800 tons of holding capacity
to collect and store rainwater runoffs for later use.

Kaohsiung World Game Stadium

Kaohsiung World Game Stadium opened last July
as the main venue for the competitions of the World
Games 2009 in Kaohsiung. The stunning building
is designed by the Japanese architect Toyo Ito in
accordance with ecological requirements of green
buildings, making it simultaneously a sport arena as
well as a solar power station.
The stadium’s roof consists of 8,844 photovoltaic
panels on a surface area of 14,155 m2, and can Fig. 4 Kaohsiung World Game Stadium during night
time
generate 1.14 GW per year, which equals to reducing Courtesy: DelSolar Co., Ltd.

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 13

INDUSTRY NEWS

660 tons of annual carbon dioxide output, or planting
33 hectare of trees. The electricity generated by
the sun can provide up to 70% energy need of the
stadium during days that competitions take place,
and can be fed into the grid in common days.
Unlike most other constructions, Kaohsiung
World Game Stadium mainly uses recyclable and
high efficient materials to lesson CO2 emission
and industrial waste during the engineering. The
roof structure installs spiral steel girders to reduce
half steels and CO2 emission in comparison of the
traditional engineering. Also, all materials of the
stadium’s main structure are made in Taiwan to
reduce the cost of transportation and CO2.
So far, this stunning building is the largest PV
installation in Taiwan, as well as the world’s first
stadium that offers power of solar energy.
Star Place
Star Place, also called Talees Department Store,
is known for its LED façade. The curvy glass façade
of the building combines with LED lighting to create
over 30 changes of light. According to source, the
electricity costs only NTD 350 per day. The façade of
Star Place is also the largest LED wall in Asia.

Fig. 5 Star Place is the largest LED wall in Asia.

Courtesy: PIDA

14 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2


Taiwanese Troops
Behind Apple’s iPad
By PIDA
A
pple Inc. ascertained in early March that its
new tablet device iPad will go on sale in US
stores on the first Saturday in April and in
other countries after few weeks. The launch
date is few days later than originally Apple announced
to put it on the market. The legend creator didn’t
specify any reason for the delay of the iPad, but an
analyst attributed to a “production problem” at an iPad
manufacturer in Taiwan.
Although experts who watch the market for a long
time have been uncertain whether the iPad will be
a smash hit like the iPod, which so far controls over
70 percent of the market for MP3 players, they know
Fig.1 iPad, an innovative device launched by Apple, is believed to again ignite a
revolution in FPD industry.
Courtesy: Apple Inc.
INDUSTRY NEWS
one thing for sure that the key to Apple’s new success
hinges on its indispensable partners in Taiwan. It
is because Apple, like many of the international
personal computer and consumer electronics brand
vendors, doesn’t manufacture products. Instead, it
teams up with professional makers to assemble the
gimmick designed by Apple.
The Taiwanese Troop
As always, Apple mutes on questions with regard
to its tight parts suppliers, be it a panel maker, flash
memory vendor or crystal producer, but buzzwords
flied fast and furious after Apple’s showcase in San
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 15
INDUSTRY NEWS

Francisco. People familiar with the giant say main suppliers for iPad components as possible has been a key driver of its
likely include Foxconn International Holdings Ltd., the trade name profitability.
of the Taiwan-based firm Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the largest Apple’s Taiwanese allies blossomed in the 1990s
manufacturer of electronics and computer components worldwide making notebooks for branded customers by costing
by revenue; Wintek Corporation, small- to medium-size LCD panel down and delivering orders quickly from across
maker headquartered in the central city of Taichung, and etc. (see Table the entire supply chain, first in northern Taiwan
1) and more recently in China. Almost all of Apple’s
Backed up by the powerful manufacturing forces, Apple provides contract manufacturers in Taiwan are considered one
more services beyond comparison just to differentiate itself from of the best in each subsector. For example, Foxconn
competitors who focus on process cost-down. As stated by David Yoffie, International Holdings Ltd., who produces and
a professor of Harvard Business School, Apple’s decision to outsource assembles a wide range of components for tier-one
all manufacturing and to incorporate as many industry-standard players, is the largest manufacturer of electronics
components worldwide by revenue. Analysts believe
that Apple accounts for at least 20% of its 2009
Table 1 Apple’s Taiwanese troop revenue, equivalent US$ 8.9 billion. Besides, it also
Company name Parts for Apple ships orders for international computer brands such
Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. Module assembly
as Hewlett-Packard Co, Acer Inc and Dell Inc, game
Flexium Interconnect, Inc.
consoles for Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp., etc.
Flexible printed circuit board (PCB)
Foxconn PCB Group Founded in 1974, Foxconn was a manufacturer
Unimicron Technology Corp.
of plastic products, in particular connectors. With
Nan Ya PCB Corp.
Printed circuit board (FPCB)
Tripod Technology Corp. a more-than-a-decade migration from a local
Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, to an
Sintek Photronic Corp.
Touch panel sensor international partner, Foxconn has established several
Wintek Corp.
Simplo Technology Co., Ltd. bases of operations and manufacturing plants across
Battery
Dynapack International Technology Corp.
the world. Among others, Foxconn Longhua in south
FoxLink Co., Ltd.
Advanced-Connectek, Inc. Cable assemblies China is now the company’s largest site, with allegedly
Wanshih Electronic Co., Ltd. more than 300,000 employees.
Novatek Microelectronics Corp. Ltd Display driver IC Even if every list created by each tech analyst
Chaun-Choung Technology Corp. Thermal module as the result of sector coverage for years intakes
Yageo Corp. different names, most of them include old faces such
Cyntec Co., Ltd. Passive component
MAG.Layers Secientific-Technics Co.,Ltd
as Catcher Technology Co., since establishment in
FoxconnTechnology Co., Ltd 1984 focusing on stainless-metal casing that has
Alloy die-castings
Catcher Technology Co., Ltd. been commonly popular for cell phones and NBs;
Coretronic Corp. Backlight module Unimicron Technology Corp., the world’s largest
G-Tech Optoelectronics Corp. Cover glass manufacturer of printed circuit board for use on cell
Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd. phones, and Yageo Corp., a global manufacturer for
Jarllytec Co. Ltd. Hinge
passive component.
United Alloy-Tech. Company

TXC Corporation Crystal

New Products, New Materials,
Darfon Corp. Notebook keyboard New Partners
A-DATA Technology Memory Additionally, given that iPad is a “revolutionary”
Source: PIDA compiled device as it represents an entirely new product

16 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2


category between the laptop computer and the
smartphone, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs,
several new names emerge as major strategic partners
who can sufficiently support Apple with new suitable
materials.
Flexium Interconnect is one of professional
flexible PCB makers founded in Kaohsiung, the
second largest city in Taiwan, specializing in the
niche product for high speed communication devices,
smartphone in particular. According to industry
sources, thanks to the increasing popularity of
Apple’s smartphone, the company was incorporated
in qualified vendors for iPhone. Following a rational
line, upbeat analysts are confident in the potential
growth of Flexium because the demand for flexible
PCBs used in iPad is expected to increase by 50%,
compared to iPhone.
The other new material applied in iPad is
the strengthened glass which is rumored as the
“ringleader” of the delay because the notoriously
quality-conscious Apple wants to guarantee one
hundred percent customer satisfaction, according to
a Taiwanese analyst who declined to be named. The
responsibility taker goes to G-Tech Optoelectronics
Corp., another Foxconn subsidiary, whose glass
strengthening is granted after a throughout
validation.
Another Asian supplier may be benefited
by iPad is Sintek Photronic Corp., who starts as
color filter provider for TFT-LCD panel makers
such as Hanstar Co. Ltd., and gradually steps into
touch panel field by producing ITO sensor glass.
Sintek has managed to nibble up the market of the
touch screen since Microsoft announced to launch
Microsoft’s of operating systems Windows 7. It
expanded manufacturing capacity in China to meet
the potential demand triggered by the new OS.
Analysts consider Sintek as key beneficiaries because
its technique of the glass-type capacitive touch
technology demonstrates more superior to rivals in
the film-type technology, as well as its advantage of
strong alliance with panel makers.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Even though analysts stress that the true
component mix will be discovered until April 3,
when Apple begins shipping the device and fanatical
geeks disassemble it so see the names inside, those
companies on the list have grabbed professional
investors’ attention because the shipment for this year
is expected to be between 3 million to 10 million.
Some are even bullish on a higher forecast “given
iPad’s competitive pricing.”
Upcoming Price War?
According to Apple, the iPad will be sold in
various models priced between US$499 and US$829,
a price range analysts say might start too cheap
for Taiwan because some local own-branded tech
companies have already worked out their own tablet
computers with a basic cost of more than US$600.
Local newspaper cited some senior managers at
Asustek Computer Inc., who created the Eee netbook
model in late 2008 and set fire to a price war at below
US$499 have concerns that any profitably will be
driven out of the nascent tablet PC market, before it
even has a chance to take off.
Some skeptical analysts say that results in another
problem which is that me-too products might not
attract consumers who are craving for brand new
stuff. If so, they look to the 2010 shipment of merely
1~1.2 million units, which is a target far away from
general expectation.
Nevertheless, when iPad debuted its first-ever
iPad TV advertisement during the 2010 Oscars on
March 7, in which a person is using the iPad in a
variety of way— changing direction from upright
to lateral on the fly, opening different applications
from iBooks, videos, to various pages. Analysts tend
to applaud the move for a great effect because the
annual grand event is simultaneously watched by a
vast majority of millions of viewers. Between now
and then, the world is holding its breath for the after
effect of iPad.
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 17
INDUSTRY NEWS
The Current Development
of Taiwan PV Application
by Melinda Ming
T
aiwanese suppliers have massive adoption
of solar PV systems for on-grid and off-grid
applications, such as bus-stops, domestic
and industrial buildings (i.e. residences
and stadiums), traffic signals, marine navigation
aids, remote lighting, and so on. Other than grid-tied
systems, standalone consumer goods are even more
popular among the suppliers; calculators, watches/
clocks, toys, battery chargers, backpacks, water
sprinklers, generators, sun roofs for automobiles,
lighting, etc.
Among consumer goods, solar lights embedded
in LED/LCD are seen promising in the industry.
Significant numbers of Taiwanese manufacturers
stick on the product line, most of them are small-
sized (less than 250 employees) with expertise in the
field. On the other hand, top-tier makers are focused
on grid-tied projects based on robust government
support through policies, feed-in-tariff schemes,
and other deployment programs in developed
areas, where on-grid domestic system attracts most
attention for homes and businesses.
Strength of Taiwan
Although consumer goods are preferred the
most, grid-tied PV application still dominated the
majority of shipments. Unlike downcast in 2009, PV
systems shipped from Taiwan in 2010 is expected to
soar. Product from the island features competitive
price (cell or module), while product from the rest of
the world does not. Not to mention some Taiwanese
giant enterprises have long ago built plants in China
that gives them a distinct advantage over counterparts
from other regions.
18 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
Besides having alternative production hubs in
China, suppliers are also do the vertical investment
or “merger and acquisition” with business partners to
capitalize on capabilities. Delta Electronics founded
DelSolar, for instance, as a window out-looking to
solar industry; investment cases like TSMC buys
into Motech and AU Optronics increases cash into
M.Setek that shocked market ever. UMC, another
Taiwanese semiconductor giant, to unveil a new solar
plant in Q3 2010, rumored in market.
Despite many PV makers claimed production for
all technologies, it is hard to achieve manufacturing
it in-house with lower price. That is how Taiwanese
suppliers jumped out to make shipments increasing:
toll processing, certainly an old measure the business
does. Contract manufacturing or so-called outsource
allows the suppliers processing cells or modules for
their clients, sometimes to provide total solution
or turn-key project, whichever goes better cost-
controlling. Basically, the industry is believed moving
from a seller’s to a buyer’s market, since Q2 2010.
Snapshot of PV Players
Gintech Energ y, one of leading provider
engaged in the development and manufacturing
of multicrystalline and monocrystalline PV cells,
it mainly exports to utility grid in Europe and
specializes in grid-tied applications for its German
client. Its process technology transferred from
European PV suppliers, and its capacity this year
anticipated up to 810MW, 80 to 90 percent increased
over 2009. As of the interview, its total amount of
order reached 700 MW, which came from the lower
cost of raw materials and the state of art automated

production equipment for a high performance
product.
Solartech Energy is a solar energy provider
engaged in manufacture and distribution of
multicrystalline and monocrystalline PV cells as well
as wholesaling and retailing of electronic materials.
While 2009 supposed the darkest year in Taiwan
solar industry, it surprised market by making sales
profitable. As shipments continuously undergoing,
its capacity is anticipated to go up to 360MW and
doubled over 2009. Flooded with orders, the supplier
shifts some to its subsidiary in China, and newly
targets Japan market other than Europe.
Meanwhile, the maker completed a private equity
placement in Q1 2010, attracted the chair Wang
(a daughter of Formosa Plastics Group: FPG’s late
founder Y.C. Wang) of HTC personally participated
in NT$500 million (US$15 million, 1:32) via its
investment, ten percent of Solartech’s holdings after
capital induction. It makes the company indirectly
affiliated with FPG, one of the earliest investing in
power grid in Taiwan.
Neo Solar Power, a crystalline PV maker, went to
public in just Q1 2010. Despite the German reduce
feed-in-tariffs; the supplier forecasts its PV shipments
to be optimistic this year by expanding its capacity
from 240 MW in Q4 2009, to 600 MW mid of 2010.
Other than Europe, the supplier turns to focus on
Japan market, where the subsidies newly resumed this
year. On the other hand, the supplier continuously
provides on-grid domestic applications, such as
BIPV, to its Dutch client Scheuten Solar, a PV system
integrator headquartered in the Netherlands.
Besides providing PV products to overseas,
Taiwan is in an endeavor to increase the use of solar
energy and cut carbon emissions, by taking feed-
in-tariffs based on Renewable Energy Development
Act. It is expected to drive the market for grid-tied
solar PV system installations for both distributed and
centralized power plants. One of the measures is to
take rooftops.
Government-based Projects to
Enhance Domestic Demand
Lunched in 2009, the “100,000 solar roofs
program” is to encourage the locals to turn their
rooftops into solar powered; the incentive is the 280
million dollars subsidization. If the project works,
it will create capacity of 60 MW, equivalent to 72
INDUSTRY NEWS
million KW hours of electricity, annually.
However, it takes about five to ten years to complete the installation
at all. So the government also plans together with establishment of solar
power plants by private investors, hopefully the project runs faster and
creates multiply annual capacity.
The first shot was a stadium that hosted the 2009 World Games in
Kaohsiung, a southern city of Taiwan. A total of 8,844 solar panels were
employed to cover 14,155 square meters of the stadium’s roof, as Figure
1 shows. It was built by Delta Electronics, a Taiwan-based provider
specializing in power management solutions. The stadium is the first
work that Delta Electronics hit the solar market in BIPV project ever.
Determined to be a main player in the market, the maker spends 290
million US dollars via its subsidiary DelSolar on a new solar cell plant,
as local government moves towards to renewable energy perspective.
Another example of on-grid application is the first solar powered
bus stop, located in Taipei County, northern city of Taiwan (shown
in Figure 2). It is embedded in thin-film PV modules and LCD light
bulbs, cost about NT$2 million (US$62,500, 1:32), estimated to reduce
1,059 kilograms of carbon emissions, equivalent to 212 trees survive
from logs, annually. The PV panels were provided by Sun Well Solar,
a subsidiary of CMC Magnetics, a producer of a-Si thin-film PV
modules, recently obtained a NT$4 billion (US$125 million, 1:32)
order from Chinese government of Nanjing City, as the only partner for
developing PV system installation for farmers’ rooftops of greenhouses.
Besides to grid-tied PV applications, automotive industry is
Fig. 1 The main stadium of 2009 World Games in Kaohsi-
ung installed 8,844 solar panels to generate 1.14 million
kWh per year.
Courtesy: archiCentral, Fu Tsu Construction Co., Ltd, Kaohsiung
Organizing Committee (KOC), Kaohsiung City Government
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 19
INDUSTRY NEWS
Fig. 1 The main stadium of 2009 World Games in
Kaohsiung installed 8,844 solar panels to generate
1.14 million kWh per year.
Courtesy: Taipei County Government
another potential for Taiwanese suppliers. Gloria Solar International
Holding, (GIH) for example, is a supplier of monocrystalline ingots,
BIPV modules, and specialty panels for automobiles. Stakeholders
of the company are E-Ton Solar Tech and Yulon Motor, the leading
solar power solution provider and the only Taiwanese automaker,
respectively.
While many gone for the “mainstream,” there is always some trying
the niche market. Nanowin Technology specializes in the solar thin
film technology: CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) is a provider
of CIGS turn-key solution that is the world’s first single source CIGS
deposition technology. Another maker, Jenn Feng New Energy, has
landed a NT$163.2 billion (US$51 million, 1:32) order from China, for
a CIGS thin-film PV module production line with an annual capacity
of 30MW; the first shipment to begin in Q3 2010.
Backing up private investments to solar industry, as well as fulfilling
the commitment to reduce carbon emission, Taiwan-government-
owned ITRI launched IECEE Certified Photovoltaic Testing Lab, which
provides producers of PV modules to conduct IEC 61215 testing in
the island. The lab is the first in Taiwan and conducts 80% of its testing
system in-house developed by its own research team. Meanwhile, the
lab also provides local suppliers world-class testing for 8.5G large-scale
thin film PV module (see Figure 3).
Conclusion
In conclusion, solar power is believed in the coming decade to be
the renewable energy most preferred in the region to combat climate
change. As more end-users are willing to adopt clean and pollution-
free energy technologies, where the largest PV market on earth could
be is always interesting to find out.
20 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
Fig.3 ITRI’s IECEE Certified Photovoltaic
Testing Lab can provide testing service for
gen 8.5 PV modules
Courtesy: ITRI
When Germany is reducing feed-in tariffs for
domestic PV system installations, Japan has taken its
place becoming the world’s largest PV market after
announcing to resume subsidization on solar panel.
However, the US and China stand a better chance of
leading the rest on the market, in terms of population.
As the governments plan to adopt feed-in tariffs or
equivalent policies, are therefore likely to beat the
Europe and Japan in total PV installation capacity.
Taiwan is geographically advantaged of exporting
to its neighborhood; most of interviewed suppliers
claim that Japan market is the target for H2 2010,
while the real battlefield to take over for Taiwanese
PV systems is China.
In brief, Taiwan’s solar industry in second half
of 2010 is believed to be occupied by on-grid PV
application, while it is beneficial of strong government
policies in feed-in-tariffs or equivalents. Meanwhile,
some suppliers aggressively process vertical
integration to reduce negotiation cost and create a
better business model, in terms of lower inventory
levels; many others happen to focus on specific fields
of the supply chain by offering particular segment
of products. It is believed that specialization will be
the principle over the years; products feature either
standardization (i.e. off-grid products, consumer
goods, etc.) or customization (i.e. BIPV, sun roofs for
automobiles, etc.)
Exhibition Watch
PFT & Display Taiwan 2010
the Best of Taiwan Photoni
by Angel Chiou
I
n echo of the resurging development of Taiwan
Photonics industry, the latest Photonics Festival
in Taiwan/Display Taiwan incarnation will be on
stage with the largest scale ever. More than 600
exhibitors have registered for the Photonics Festival
in Taiwan and Display Taiwan. The space booked
in the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1,
second floor, and TICC exceeds that of the previous
show in 2009 to reach 1,580 booths.
Grouping four exhibitions— OPTO/ LED
Lighting/ SOLAR/ OPTICS Taiwan, the prominent
photonic event is set to launch during June 9th to
11th 2010. This year’s Photonics Festival in Taiwan
again reflects the unstoppable trend to “GO GREEN.”
Through the specially-organized areas such as “Green
Photonics Cluster” and “Taiwan HCPV Cluster
Zone” photonic technologies that help save energy,
lower pollution, generate or conserve energy will be
fully presented. The other spotlights of the exposition
will be shown in “Advanced Photonics Research
Zone,” “Touch Panel Zone,” “E-paper Zone,” and
“Outstanding Photonics Product Award,” showing
new ideas and technical solutions from all areas of
photonics and from all over the world.
LED Lighting Taiwan 2010: the
Booming Business
Taiwan’s LEDs and solar cells have managed to
capture leading positions worldwide.
Taiwan LED production volume stands as the
22 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
world’s largest, while ranking second in value. On
the other hand, the capacity of Taiwan solar cell tops
the world’s third largest with 3,285 MW, while the
production value ranks No.4 worldwide. Taking pride
in such outstanding performance, Taiwan industry
players again bring on the best in Photonics Festival
in Taiwan 2010.
Filled with key manufacturers, LED Lighting
Taiwan is a must-see exposition in 2010. Not only will
the big brand name companies such as Osram, Cree,
Philips Lumileds and Panasonic exhibit their latest
and innovative product, leading LED manufacturers
including Epistar, LiteOn, Everlight, Edison, Delta,
Kingbright, Tyntek, Neo-neon, Topco Sientific,
Oasistek, and Forepi will also present the complete
range of lighting technologies, together showing the
bright performance of Taiwan’s LED industry.
The impact of several China’s LED installation
project is apparent in whole LED industry and
makes cooperation with China LED companies
an important issue than ever. This year the show
organizer PIDA invites China Semiconductor
Lighting Industrialization Base to come attend LED
Lighting Taiwan to spark off cross-strait cooperation.
Also, with the positive response from last year, the
Cross Strait Photonics Show in Photonics Festival
in Taiwan will continue to serve as a networking
platform to bring out future connections for both
China and Taiwan manufacturers.
Apart from the show, a special LED lighting night
 Exhibition Watch

0 Bring on
ics Industry
tour is arranged in Taiwan’s landmark skyscraper—
Taipei 101. Taipei 101 had announced to seek gold-
level LEED certification to be the world’s tallest green
building, and one of its approaches is to replace
its lighting system into LED lights. The night tour
in Taipei 101 not only displays the GREEN image
of Taiwan, but demonstrates Taiwan’s strength in
industry integration among upstream manufacturing
to downstream application.

Solar Taiwan 2010: A Greener

Taiwan
Again in this year, exhibitors of Solar Taiwan
2010 will bring out the development leaps in PV
technologies. Well-known companies including
Pillar, M-Com, Nisshinbo, Veeco, and Edwards come
to the show to prove their market potential and
competitiveness. This gather-up not only make the
show a carnival of edge-cutting component, material,
equipment, and technologies in current PV industry,
but also enhance the cooperation between local and
global PV industry.
Regarding Taiwan’s strength in research and
development, it is best demonstrated through the
specially-planned initiatives “Advanced Photonics
Research Zone.”
This zone presents the most pioneering photonic
technologies developed from Taiwan academia,
serving a channel to connect industry players and
academia.
Further, Solar Taiwan 2010 will bring together
the three most important science parks in the specific
area “Green Photonics Cluster.” This cluster features
the synergy and cluster effect among industry players.
Exhibitors in this area include Delsolar, Lof Solar,
Gintech, CNJT, King Enertech, Coretronic. “Taiwan
HCPV Cluster Zone,” on the other hand, represents
comprehensive industry chain of Taiwan HCPV
industry in miniature with a real HCPV system
on site. Exhibitors will include Arima Eco Energy,
Everphoton, PCM, M-Com and INER.
Over 150 Conference Topics
2010 Market & Technology Trend Conference
is scheduled to be held with Photonics Festival in
Taiwan and Display Taiwan exhibitions and features
renowned speaker from all around the world.

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 23

Exhibition Watch
In the 6th International Conference in LED
Lighting Taiwan 2010, speakers and hosts from
Osram, Cree, Delta, Philips, and Nichia will give
insightful analysis on topics over all facets of LED
technologies and market trends. To name a few,
the technical adviser of the international program
“Lighting Africa” which provides lamps for children
in Africa will bring a whole new market view to all
participants.
As LED is getting closer to end users’ market,
LED’s success hinges on the cooperation and
integration of players among different fields. In 2010
Vertical Integration Strategies in Solid State Lighting,
experts from LED, architecture, interior design,
and fixtures will all gather up to talk over strategies
of vertical integration in Solid State Lighting.
Meanwhile, speakers in Forum of Cooperation
Opportunities of Cross-Strait Photonics Industry will
deliver the market potential in China photonic field.
In the 4th International Conference in Solar
Taiwan 2010, speakers over Taiwan, Japan, Korea,
and China is going to share with the audience their
thoughts on the current regional PV development.
Updates on advancement of edge-cutting technologies
such as CIGS, H, c-Si, HCPV, polysilicon will also a
can-not-miss session during the exposition.
In response to the “GO GREEN” theme in the
show, the International Green Photonics Forum
with the topic “From Green Photonics to Low
24 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
Carbon Society” addresses issues on how photonics
technologies are used to improve the sustainability of
environment worldwide. Speakers of the forum are
key persons from OITDA, OIDA, EPIC, SOA, and
OpTech-Net to share their experiences in promoting
green photonic technologies.
Display Taiwan 2010, Display
the Future of FPD
Display Taiwan 2010, Asia’s leading trade fair for
flat panel display and technology, opens its doors
concurrently with Photonics Festival in Taiwan
during June 9th to 11th as the only innovation
platform of its kind. Over 200 exhibitors amounting
to about 550 booths will again position Taiwan as the
production base in the FPD industry.
This year’s Display Taiwan includes some exciting
and significant progress in display imaging and
some innovative products. Touch panel and E-paper,
with an explosive growth in 2010, are set to specific
zones to demonstrate the surging market. Touch
Panel Zone will be clustered with companies of
the whole spectrum of touch panel industry chain,
while Taiwan-based companies taking charge of
four mainstream E-paper technologies will gather
up in the E-paper Zone to showcase the current
breakthrough of each technology. Other key
highlights exhibits include 3D, OLED, large-sized
displays, and materials and components of the related
areas. Leading companies in FPD industry such as
AUO, CPT, Corning, 3M, NAKAN, Elan, PVI, SPG,
and Nissan Chemical are expected to bring the most
edge-cutting technologies and products in the 2010
show.
Besides the attractions of the trade show, the
crowds will also be drawn by Display Taiwan 2010
Business & Technology Forum which takes place
in conjunction with the exposition. Speakers from
leading companies will engage in a spirited in-depth
discussion surrounding some of the current trends
in the display market. Also, due to the fast growing
market in China, the organizers plan a special session
targeting market and technological development in
China, inviting speakers from China academia and
industry to update the current status of China FPD
 Exhibition Watch

The 6th International Conference in LED Lighting Taiwan 2010

Venue:TICC Room 101C

2010/06/09(Wed.)
Session Chair:Ru-Shi Liu, Professor, Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan
University
Session Time Topic / Speaker
09:00 Development & Prospect of Full Color LED Chip on Silicon Substrate
~10:00 Chih-Sung Chang, General Manager, HIGH POWER OPTO INC.
LED_1 Shaping the Future of Lighting: High Power LED & OLED
10:15
Matthias Winter, Sales Manager, Taiwan, OSRAM Opto
~11:15
Tech Semiconductors
Trend New Phosphors for White LEDs
11:30 Naoto Kijima, Senior Researcher, Group Leader, White LED Project,
~12:30 Mitsubishi Chemical Group Science and Technology Research
Center, Inc.
Session Chair:Timothy Yang, Manager, LED BU, Wellypower Optronics CO. LTD.
The Current Status & Impact of Taiwan LED Companies Investing
13:30 in China
~14:30 Shao-Hsu Lu, Industry Analyst, Photonics Industry & Technology
Development Association
LED_2 The Future Outlook of Solid State Lighting in Europe & the U.S.
14:45
Ray Chock, Manager, Global Segment Marketing, Philips Lumileds
~15:45
Industry Lighting Company
Trend LED Technology Development & Related Applications in Korea
16:00
Nam Hwang, Director, LED Business Division, Korea Photonics
~17:00
Technology Institute
Keynote Speech:Introduction to the Lighting Africa Program
17:00
Leo Blyth, Technical Advisor, Lighting Africa Program, IFC Advisory
~17:30
Services

industry. to explore future business opportunities. Over 300

Bringing More Vitality to the
Industry
Apart from the exhibition itself, PIDA also
presents special events such as the Opening
Ceremony, Outstanding Photonics Product Award,
Welcome Reception Party, Exhibitors’ Seminar, and
Business Match Meeting to help promote this annual
event.
In addition to 20 delegations from China will
come to join the exposition, 30 international buyers
from Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Turkey, USA,
Canada, UAE, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, UK,
and Australia will participate in the show to procure
Taiwan-manufactured LED/PV products as well as
procurement meeting held onsite are expected to
bring a strong business demand for Taiwan industry
players.
Photonics Festival in Taiwan and Display Taiwan
2010 not only show the strong performance of
Taiwan photonics industry, but also provide an ideal
promotion platform for global companies. Each year,
more and more buyers from overseas have gathered
in the exhibition hall to witness the advancement
of the Taiwan photonics industry and to seize the
business opportunities there. The two paired events
this year will again constitute a spectacular and
definitely bring an amazing success for everyone in
photonic industry.

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 25

Exhibition Watch

2010/06/10(Thu.)
Session Chair:Martin Yeh, General Manager, TOA Optronics Corporation
Session Time Topic / Speaker
09:00 Innovative Product Design Inspired by LED Application
~10:00 JC Pan, Senior Manager, Lifestyle Products BU, Qisda Corporation
LED_3
Invest in LED: Strategies Tackling the Green Wave
10:15
Raymond Peng, Assistant Vice President, Research Dept, First Capital
Industry ~11:15
Management Inc.
Investment
Our View of Lighting up Streets with LED in G. China
11:30
Andrew Lin, Vice President, Business Development, LEOTEK
~12:30
ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

Session Chair:Masaki Mukaiyama, Director, Sales Division, NICHIA TAIWAN CORPORATION

LED Application on Architecture Lighting

13:30
Nigel D’Acre, Director of Strategy, SSL Lums Asia, Lighting, Philips
~14:30
Electronics Co.
2010 Shanghai World Expo & Taiwan Pavilion with LED Lighting Design
14:45
LED_4 James Yuan, Principal, Design department, J.Y. Lighting Design
~15:45
Consultants
Lighting & Solid State Lighting Development in India
16:00
Building Kopuri, Vijaya Kumar Gupta, Managing Director, Kwality Photonics P
~17:00
Ltd.
Keynote Speech:Introduction to the Lighting Africa Program
17:00
Leo Blyth, Technical Advisor, Lighting Africa Program, IFC Advisory
~17:30
Services

2010/06/11 (Fri.)
Session Chair:Jacob Tarn, Director, New Business, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Campany Limited
Session Time Topic / Speaker
09:00 High Power LED for Street Light Applications
~10:00 Kuan Yew Cheong, Senior Application & Technical Manager, APEC, Cree
Innovative LED lighting technology & related commercialization process
LED_5 10:15 in Japan
~11:15 Masahiro Ogura, Senior Manager, New Lighting System Division, Global
Application Strategic Marketing Promotion Office, Toshiba Corporation
Market
The Energy Star Standards for LED Lighting & the Standards in Taiwan
11:30
and China
~12:30
Frank Hsu, Vice President, ONSET Electro-Optics Co., Ltd.

Session Chair:Fen-Ren Chien, Ph. D., Formosa Epitaxy Incorporation

From IT to ET, the integration strategy in LED Industry
13:30
Roland Chiang, Director, Solid-state Lighting Business Unit, Delta
~14:15
Electronics, Inc.
LED_6
The Application Trends of LED TV
14:15
Franky Lo, Vice President, Project Management Dept. & OEM Sales Dept.,
Application ~15:00
AMTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
Trend
The Applications and Opportunities of LED for Mobile/Micro Projectors
15:55
Marcus Wong, Senior Marketing Manager, Visible LED, APAC, OSRAM
~16:40
Opto Semiconductors

26 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2

 Exhibition Watch

The 4th International Conference in Solar Taiwan 2010

Venue:TICC Room 101D

2010/06/09(Wed.)
Session Time Topic / Speaker
09:00 The Global PV Industry Overview and the Uprising Korean PV Industry/Market
PV_1 ~10:00 Mark Jee, Director, Solar & Energy
10:15 Market and Technology Trends of Concentrating Solar
Market ~11:15 Paula Mints, Associate Director, NAVIGANT Consulting Inc.
Trend 11:30 Long Term Growth in Demand for Solar Energy Shifting from West to East?
~12:30 Ravi Krishnaswamy, Director, Energy & Power Systems, Asia Pacific, Frost & Sullivan
13:30 The Latest Development Chances of PV Industry
~14:30 Su Yu-Li, R&D Manager, POWERCOM Co., Ltd.
PV_2
14:45 The Development of China PV Industry, and the Prospect of Solar Electricity in China
~15:45 Kit Temple, CEO, ENF Ltd.
Area Market
Industry Status of PV Industry and Market Outlook in Taiwan
16:00
Joeng-Shein Chen, Division Director, PVTC, Division of System Innovation and application,
~17:00
ITRI
2010/06/10 (Thu.)
09:00 Strategic Development of CIGS Technology in Taiwan
PV_3 ~10:00 Chung-Wen Lan, General Director , Photovoltaics Technology Center, ITRI
10:15 Technology Advantages of CIGS and its Development Trend
Low Cost ~11:15 Ding-Chang, Wang, CEO, PVNext Corporation
CIGS CIGS Commercial Production Breakthroughs and Product Innovations
Technology 11:30 John Patrin, Sr. Director of Business Development and Product Marketing, Veeco
~12:30
Instruments Inc.
13:30 Technology Development Trends of High Efficiency Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell
PV_4 ~14:30 Yi-Chan Chen, Deputy Division Director, Photovoltaics Technology Center, ITRI
14:45 Approaches for Increasing the Competitiveness of HIT Solar Cells
Advanced
~15:45 Eiji Maruyama, General Manager, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
c-Si
Technology 16:00 Latest Technology of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells-Toward Large Scale Production
Levien de Lege, Account Manager, Silicon PV, Process Development and Application ECN
~17:00
Solar Energy
2010/06/11 (Fri.)
Current Situation and Future Development of Thin Film Solar Cell Using in Utility Power
09:00
PV_5 Yoshihisa Tawada, Senior Adviser, R&D Planning & Administration Division, Kaneka
~10:00
Corporation
Market Best in Class Polysilicon Technology
10:15
Competitive Li Li, Vice General Manager, Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co.,
~11:15
New Ltd.
Technology 11:30 Market Competitive HCPV
~12:30 Andrew Tzeng, President, Arima EcoEnergy Technologies Corp.
PV_6 13:30 The Green Building Planning and Design for Pavillions of Taipei International Flora Exhibition
~14:30 , Bio Architecture Formosana
Value of 14:45 Integration of Renewable Energy into Smart Grid – Taiwan’s Planning and Development
System ~15:45 Jin-Shyr Yang, Director, Power Research Lab, Taiwan Power Research Institute, TPC
Solutions 16:00 Design and Experience of PV System Using Color Solar Cell in Expo 2010 Shanghai China
~17:00 Huey-Liang Hwang, CEO, Lof Solar Corporation

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 27

Exhibition Watch

Courtesy: KAPID

From Green Photonics to Low

Carbon Society— Internaonal
Green Photonics Forum will be
held by PIDA
by Angel Chiou

T
he last time PIDA holding the IOA
meeting was ten years ago in 2000 and
this time PIDA is going to do something
different! In addition to the two-day-
run IOA meeting focusing on the production
trend in optoelectronics/ activity reports from
each organization, and future growth areas in
optoelectronics/ technology roadmap activities, the
host PIDA will invites representatives from these
international organizations to share their thoughts in
the International Green Photonics Forum in Taiwan.
The International Green Photonics Forum
in Taiwan will be held on June 11th in Taiwan
International Convention Center (TICC). The topic
“From Green Photonics to Low Carbon Society”
addresses issues on the combination of photonics
technology and the sustainability of environment.
Speakers of this forum are key persons from
attendant organizations of the IOA meeting. A brief
introduction of each speaker is as follow.
Dr. Peter Shih is the founder as well as the
chairperson of Photonics Industry and Technology
Development Association (PIDA). He has been
devoted himself to the area of photonics and laser
since 1982, and earned the reputation as “father of
photonics.”

28 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2

 Exhibition Watch

Dr. Yasuhisa Odani, Chief Executive

Director of Optoelectronic Industry and Technology
Development Association (OITDA).

Dr. Michael Lebby, is the president and

CEO of Optoelectronics Industry Development
Association (OIDA). His career has spanned all
aspects of the optoelectronics business, from research
and development, operations, manufacturing, and
finance, to sales, marketing, and investing. He holds
more than 175 U.S. issued patents in optoelectronics.
He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and
of the IEEE.

Dr. Thomas Pearsalll, General Secretary

of European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC),
has worked for Bell Laboratories, Thalès LCR, and
Corning. Dr. Pearsall began to head EPIC since 2002
and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and
a Fellow of the IEEE.

D r . C h r i s G r a c i e , C E O of S c ott i s h
Optoelectronics Association (SOA) and formally MD
of the Ferranti and GEC-Marconi Displays Division,
has over 35 years experience in the optoelectronics
industry spanning large companies and SMEs.
Featuring issues that how photonics technologies improve
environment, the International Green Photonics Forum will
be concurrently held with Photonics Festival in Taiwan and
Display Taiwan, together creating a splendid photonic event.

Dr. Dirk Kalinowski became the Chief

Executive of OpTech-Net since 2001. Among other
things he is currently responsible for the roadmap
development of the PhotoniRoadSME project.

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 29

Exhibition Watch
Illuminang a World
of Opportunity—
Photonics in Canada
by Canadian Photonics Consortium
T
Photonics is a $710 billion global industry
that impacts every sector of the economy
and the daily life of every Canadian. Yet
despite its pervasiveness, this “science of
light” has a relatively low profile among our leaders
and decision makers.
Canada has approximately 370 photonics
companies that employ some 20,000 people and
collectively generate close to $4.5 billion annually—
approximately 85% from exports. Most of these
companies are subsystem- or system-level integrators
of photonics components.
The nation’s core photonics producer sector
is firmly rooted in small and medium enterprises
(SMEs) and startups with revenues in the $1
million—$10 million range and up to 50 employees
(although there are a handful of larger companies or
divisions). These companies range from developers
and component manufacturers (e.g., of lasers, fiber
optics) to complete photonics-based instruments
(cameras, projectors, scanning microscopes).
The industry has migrated away from the
telecommunications sector with which it was strongly
30 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
associated during the high-tech “bubble” of 2000:
with the exception of the consumer market, it now
addresses most industry sectors. Automobile and
aerospace companies, for example, make extensive
use of photonics. Canada invests strongly in— and
excels at— photonics R&D. However, the research
is often untargeted, and translation of the outcomes
into commercial success could be improved.
But while Canada creates world-class photonics
physicists at the PhD level, a shortage of photonics
technicians and application engineers hampers
the industry’s growth. Most engineers graduating
from Canadian universities have little exposure to
photonics, impeding the industry’s ability to adopt
photonics solutions in all sectors. Yet photonics has
great potential to be a significant engine for national
economic growth.
Given greater public and industry awareness, and
greater focus on potential key applications in such
sectors as energy and the environment (each with a
strong domestic demand for photonics solutions),
Canada is well positioned to leverage its expertise by
creating companies with global opportunities.
 Exhibition Watch

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Photonics in Canada Today T h e i n d u s t r y i s l e s s d e p e n d e nt o n t h e

Photonics is a $710 billion global industry that
impacts every sector of the economy and the daily
life of every Canadian. Canada was an early player
in photonics and has established a global presence in
both research and commercialization.
Today, Canada has approximately 370 photonics
companies that employ some 20,000 people and
collectively generate close to $4.5 billion annually—
approximately 85% from exports. The United States
is the dominant market, accounting for 50% of
revenues. Europe accounts for about a quarter of all
sales. A handful of companies gain their revenues
from Asia.
Canada’s photonics industry is dominated
by small companies. Nearly three-quarters have
revenues below $10 million, and close to one quarter
have revenues below $1 million (or are pre-revenue).
Eighty-five percent of the 370 companies employ
fewer than 100 employees in total; 30% have fewer
than 10 employees; while only 7% of companies or
divisions have more than 250 employees.
telecommunications sector with which it was strongly
associated during the high-tech “bubble” of 2000.
Only 20% of companies now address this sector,
though there are a number of successful post-bubble
companies that are making an international name.
Canadian photonics companies create products and
solutions for almost every industry sector: health care
and life sciences, energy, environment, security and
defence, and industrial processing and monitoring.
The Canadian photonics workforce is highly
educated and contains a high proportion of
professionals. Roughly 40% of the workforce (over
8,000 employees nationwide) is engaged in industrial
photonics research and development. This is due to
two factors: first, startup companies typically have a
predominance of R&D staff; and second, several large
companies maintain R&D facilities in Canada but
manufacture elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the proportion engaged in
manufacturing (33%) is high for the technology
sector, implying that many companies still prefer to

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 31

Exhibition Watch
produce their products in Canada rather than transfer
their assembly operations offshore. Furthermore,
Canada’s role in the value chain remains significant, in
large part due to our expertise in system integration.
Though Canada has a strong R&D competence
in materials and devices, it has few large indigenous
suppliers of photonics devices, with the exception
of detectors. Indeed, only a quarter of Canadian
companies address this level in the food chain.
Canada’s strength is its ability to integrate photonics
devices and technologies, no matter where they
come from, to provide value-add solutions such
as networking equipment, optical test equipment,
manufacturing inspection equipment, gas analyzers,
and solid-state lighting assemblies.
Regional Breakdown
Both Ontario and Quebec have well-established
photonics industries that represent the entire food
chain with a mix of large companies, startups and
SMEs. While there is a continuing strong focus on
traditional photonics markets such as defence and
telecom, key emerging markets include sensing
32 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
(Quebec) and life sciences (Ontario). Ontario
dominates the country in both revenues (66%) and
employees (50%), primarily due to a handful of large
companies such as Dalsa and ELCAN.
In Western Canada, the economic activity
in photonics is more diverse. There are few
large companies, no major government facilities
specializing in photonics, fewer university groups,
and little formal networking of photonics interests.
In these provinces, much of the activity takes place
in SMEs or startups. Clusters of activity are emerging
in the Edmonton (oil and gas exploration) and
Vancouver areas (lighting). NRC’s newly established
National Institute of Nanotechnology (NINT) in
Edmonton is a potential source of new companies:
NINT already has two photonics startups in its
incubator unit. A current proposal to establish a
fusion facility in Alberta would create a significant
cluster of expertise in high-power lasers. With
appropriate nurturing, strong photonics clusters could
be created around both Edmonton and Vancouver to
address two areas of strategic importance to Canada:
energy and the environment.

Fig.1 Photonics Companies In Canada
Courtesy: Canadian Photonics Consortium
The User Sector
The contribution of photonics to Canada’s GDP
far exceeds the $4.5 billion in revenues contributed
by the companies surveyed for this report. Photonics
is used in some way in virtually every sector of the
economy. For example:
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in Canada for cutting and welding in a myriad of
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strong domestic industries and exploit them globally.
plastics and fabrics. In the Prairies alone, this survey
identified 25 such companies, many of which are
engaged in cutting complex structures for use in the
oil and gas industry.
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processing industry. In Newfoundland, the fishing
industry uses optical techniques to size and shape fish
fillets, and a local company provides the hardware.
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to cut and align pieceparts and to provide advanced
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Exhibition Watch
for sizing of logs, disease detection and process
control.
Opportunity for Growth
Major Canadian wealth-creating industries—
such as aerospace, automotive, forestry, and oil and
gas suppliers – are increasing users of photonics and
must embrace photonics techniques wherever they
offer advantages in capability, speed, cost, safety and
energy savings. This creates a major opportunity for
Canada’s photonics producers to provide solutions for
But to do so effectively requires better engagement
between photonics users and domestic producers;
increased training of photonics technicians; and
better sharing of knowledge and information between
the various sectors.
Lighting the Way to a Greener,
Safer World
Around the world, increasingly green-minded
governments, businesses and consumers are looking
for ways to significantly reduce energy consumption
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 33
Exhibition Watch
and CO2 emissions. As opinions and policies change
about energy as a consumable resource, photonics is
becoming a powerful tool in helping create a greener
world.
With about 20% of the world’s electrical energy
used just for lighting, the need to use photonics, the
science of light, to fight climate change is compelling.
The U.S. Department of Energy is targeting a 50%
reduction in energy use for lighting by 2025, a goal
that will see savings of $12 billion and 6.5 million
metric tons of carbon per year.
Worldwide, the market for lamps alone exceeds
$20 billion per year and represents an enormous
market for new, less polluting lighting technologies.
Today’s fluorescent bulbs are a partial solution to the
energy-inefficient incandescent light bulb but suffer
from problematic end-of-life issues. In the near future
we will see these replaced with photonic innovations
like high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB-LEDs)
and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). HB-
LEDs are already cutting the energy needs of high-
impact lighting used in signage, architecture and
security. The current market for such devices is over
$5 billion annually. OLEDs offer a sheet-like flexible
lighting source that will have numerous novel lighting
and display opportunities.
Low-weight, low-energy innovations are perfect
for lighting on the move. Modern trucks and cars now
use HB-LEDs in rear and brake lights and headlights;
in just a few short years, almost all truck and cars on
the road with be equipped with LEDs both outside
and inside. The change will happen fast— today, LEDs
make up 60% of automobile high-level rear lights and
almost 20% of rear and turn lights. As we drive down
the road, we encounter photonics again, as traffic
signals today are increasingly equipped with LEDs.
In the air, planes use HB-LEDs for cabin lighting to
take advantage of lower power consumption and the
ability to change the cabin “mood” during a flight.
Canada: The Power of Value-
Add
Despite the large investments made by other
countries such as the United States, Taiwan and
Germany in LED technologies, Canada has a role
34 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
to play. Several Canadian universities have built
world-class expertise in developing custom LEDs,
and the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre has
the equipment needed to produce custom LEDs
from epitaxy wafers. An Ottawa-based company has
attracted significant investment as it develops new
sources based on light emission in silicon.
But it is Canada’s strength as a system integrator
where we really add value. Canadian companies are
developing LED-based lighting solutions for specific
applications such as parking lot and street lighting,
remote off-grid lighting, advertising needs and show
lighting. A Vancouver-based company combines LED
lighting with solar power to be a world leader in the
supply of standalone lighting solutions for marine,
defence and recreational applications. A startup
in Edmonton is developing office lighting systems
based on HB-LEDs. One of the world’s largest
lighting companies, Philips, has recognized Canada’s
capabilities and has already acquired two Canadian
companies as it builds a vertically integrated value
chain.
Converting Sunlight to Usable
Energy
The sun is the ultimate clean, renewable energy
source, and photovoltaics, the direct conversion of
solar power into electricity, provides an exciting
market opportunity for clean energy. Globally, the
photovoltaics market was worth $15 billion in 2007,
with a 25% annual growth rate. Venture capitalists
are lining up and have already invested over $500
million in companies developing new technologies
and techniques for harnessing the power of the sun.
Not coincidentally, Japan and Europe lead in the
photovoltaics market and boast governments that
have the strongest incentives and laws to encourage
consumers to adopt green energy generation
alternatives.
Canada’s Role
One of the challenges to developing a mass
photovoltaics market is Canada’s gain: the need for
silicon.
Current photovoltaics use silicon solar cells. Used
 Exhibition Watch

extensively in semiconductors as well, silicon is in on Prince Edward Island.

demand, with over 50% of silicon used today for solar Further in the future, the Laser Fusion Project,
cells. This is creating supply shortages and consequent which is being discussed for Alberta, would see
price pressures. One of Canada’s great strengths— the Canada take a leading position in renewable energy
mining and processing of raw materials— is being and would help build a significant photonics strength
applied to the production of solar-grade silicon. At in Western Canada.
least two Canadian companies have processes that
offer an economic advantage; one is already winning Conclusions and
major contracts from solar cell producers. Another Recommendations
venture-backed company has developed a process Photonics offers a rapidly emerging toolbox of
to reduce cost and increase safety during solar cell technologies that are pervading all aspects of society
manufacture. and impacting all of Canada’s core industrial sectors.
Silicon solar cells are also relatively inefficient.
This has stimulated Canadian companies and
universities to look at alternatives. Already
an Ottawa-based startup has demonstrated
worldbeating efficiencies in gallium arsenide nano-
structures. Others are working on polymers and
nanotechnologies.
Canada’s strength in system integration is being
used to build total solar power solutions for on- and
off-grid applications. An Ottawa-based company has
developed a tracking system that maximizes electrical
conversion from solar cell arrays and combines it
with solar water heating. Its systems are installed at
several public buildings and a major supermarket. A
Vancouver-based company is operating a solar array

Fig.2 Global Photonics Components And Products Market

Courtesy: Canadian Photonics Consortium

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 35

Exhibition Watch
Canada has an established photonics sector
that contributes to the global capability base
and increasingly adds value by integrating
globally available technologies with system and
user applications. The sector has a number of
globally competitive strengths; by focusing on key
opportunities, it can play an even bigger role in the
Canadian economy.
The core of Canada’s photonics producer sector is
firmly rooted in SMEs and startups with revenues in
the $1 million ~ $10 million range and— at most—
50 employees. These small companies are often
underfunded, and are frequently disadvantaged when
facing their U.S. competitors, who have access to the
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
In Ontario and Quebec, where clusters have been
encouraged, the distribution of economic activity
about this core SME mass shows a balance indicative
of healthy growth potential (i.e., a strong startup base,
together with migration of SMEs into larger entities).
In other parts of the country, where clusters do not
exist, this distribution of economic activity is more
scattered, and the comparative size of photonics-
related activity is significantly diminished.
Canadian photonics is already a multibillion-
dollar enterprise with a high contribution to exports.
However, Canada’s photonics export growth lags
behind that of market demand, suggesting that we
may be losing ground to our international peers.
There are some unique opportunities— such as in
the energy and environment sectors— where there
is a strong domestic demand for photonics solutions
that can be leveraged to create companies with global
opportunities.
Canada excels in photonics at the R&D level.
However, with the exception of NRC, CPFC, INO
and a few universities, our success in converting this
into economic activity to the fullest extent is limited,
indicating a potential weakness in our business
infrastructure.
While Canada creates good photonics physicists
at the PhD level, we are not producing enough
photonics technicians and applications engineers.
The average engineer graduating from a Canadian
university has insufficient exposure to photonics,
36 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
which is a barrier to companies that wish to put
photonics in subsystem- and system-level products.
Photonics has great potential to be a significant
engine for national economic growth. However, at
the strategic level, it is not yet truly recognized as
an industrial sector. This limits its visibility at the
highest levels of business and government, which
may not be in the best national interest. Photonics sits
firmly on the global stage. To be successful, Canada’s
photonics community must have a global perspective,
both in expanding its international presence, and in
ensuring that Canada’s own domestic environment
remains open to— and benefits from— the fullest
participation of foreign photonics practitioners and
centers of excellence.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Engage the User Community
The photonics producer community should
engage more strongly with the user community
to develop solutions that provide leadership to
key Canadian industries and potential export
opportunities. (The Innovative Photonics Application
[IPA] program introduced by CIPI could be a suitable
model.) Representatives of the key economic sectors
should have a voice in bodies such as the Canadian
Photonics Consortium (CPC). Canada should also
encourage foreign manufacturers of laser systems
used in manufacturing to participate in the photonics
community in Canada. This will ensure that our
manufacturers and suppliers have an informed view
of photonics capabilities, open up opportunities
for local system integrators, and apply our process
knowledge more effectively.
2. Facilitate Knowledge Exchange
A c om m on t he m e e m e rg i ng f rom t he
workshops and interviews used to compile this study
was a thirst for information about photonics and its
applications. We recommend setting up information
portals, similar to those of the U.K. Knowledge
Transfer Networks (KTNs), in strategic application
areas of photonics, such as solar energy. CPC,
regional photonics clusters, and organizations such as
CIPI should consider becoming the delivery vehicle
for such information gateways.

Fig.3 The Photonics Toolbox
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3. Improve Education and Awareness
The level of photonics education and awareness
in Canada is inadequate for meeting the future
demands of photonics users. We recommend that
CPC launch a photonics awareness initiative to
attract students to train in the subject and overcome
the lingering negativity from the collapse of the
telecom bubble. Photonics should become a core part
of all undergraduate engineering courses, and there
should be an increase in the number of photonics
technician courses at colleges (similar to those offered
in Ontario). Educators and communicators should be
engaged to popularize the photonics world around us
to the general public.
4. Increase Commercialization of Canadian
Technology
Despite the high investment in photonics
R&D, technology flow and transfer between the
academic and industrial sectors is inadequate.
(This is a phenomenon that is not unique to the
photonics sector.) We recommend establishing inter-
agency programs that use alternative models for
financing and managing technology transfer, and that
encourage stronger participation and leadership from
industrial partners. One proven model is that used
by the Seventh Framework in the European Union.
We also recommend that other agencies consider
Exhibition Watch
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direct funding of small companies, much as the SBIR
program does in the United States.
5. Focus R&D on Strategic Sectors
Countries that have deliberately focused
investment in key areas of photonics (such as
Germany and the United Kingdom) have been
remarkably successful in building globally competitive
industries and attracting inward investment. Canada’s
investment in photonics is broad-brush and relatively
unfocused. We recommend establishing a photonics
strategy group that includes industry and academics.
Their role: to focus the investment on a few key
sectors that are judged to be of global significance
in the next 10 years and where Canada has the
photonics skills to make a difference.
6. Expand the Cluster Model
Experience in Ontario and Quebec has
demonstrated that the presence of strong cluster
activity encourages the incubation and development
of a balanced distribution of photonics companies.
There are a growing number of photonics producers
and users in Western Canada, but they are very
loosely organized and lack the benefits of the strong
clusters found in Ontario and Quebec. CPC should
work with provincial and regional governments to
catalyze the formation of clusters in Alberta and
British Columbia.
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 37
Exhibition Watch

Fig.4 Statistics Of Canadian

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38 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2

 Exhibition Watch

Scosh Optoelectronics
Associaon—
Supporng Optoelectronics in Scotland
by Scottish Optoelectronics Association

Scottish Optoelectronics Association (SOA) brings together the companies and university
departments engaged in photonics in Scotland. SOA interacts with similar organisations in the UK,
Europe and the rest of the world. Hence SOA will be in Taipei, during the Taiwan Photonics Festival,
meeting with the International Optoelectronics Associations. In addition a number of Scottish
companies will be accompanying SOA and be represented at the Exhibition.

S
cotland has approximately 8% of the UK
population and hence its photonics industry
forms only a part of the UK’s capability.
There are 78 companies in S cotland
producing Photonics products. These companies
are predominantly micro companies (53) by the
European definition, which is that they have less
then 10 employees. The next largest grouping is small
(19) with between 11 and 50 employees. This leaves
3 companies in each of the categories defined as
medium 51 to 250 employees and large— more then
251 employees. The distribution of companies by size
reflects to an extent their origins. A large number are
spin outs from Universities with products based on

Courtesy: SOA

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 39

Exhibition Watch

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Courtesy: Ukphoenix79@wikimedia commons
state of the art technologies.
Research Capability and Un-going
Projects in Universities
Scotland has a wealth of photonics research capability with
11 universities each with at least 1 department undertaking
research in photonics. Eight of these universities have come
together to form a research alliance in physics, Scottish
Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) www.supa.ac.uk. The
aim is to place Scotland at the forefront of research in physics
through an agreed national strategy, an inter-institutional
management structure, and co-ordinated promotion and
pursuit of excellence. A major research theme being pursued is
photonics. In recent years, universities have been increasingly
keen to transfer their technology to industry. Hence in addition
40 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
to funding for research government agencies have
been devoting funds to technology transfer. This
theme of engaging with industry has spread beyond
national boundaries.
The Universities of Strathclyde, St Andrews,
Heriot-Watt and Glasgow, together with Stanford
University and the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech), are collaborating in a project which has
won funding from the Science Bridges awards,
announced by Research Councils UK (RCUK).
The project, SU2P, is designed to capitalize on
leading research in the photonics sector, in fields
including life sciences and renewable energy, and the
commercial opportunities the research offers. It also
aims to bolster existing links between universities and
businesses in Scotland and the US. The three-year
venture between the six institutions will focus on:
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The TTMO
The Scottish Optoelectronics Association
itself contributes to technology transfer between
companies and universities through the Technology
Transfer Opportunity Mechanism (TTOM) scheme.
The aim of TTOM is to enable technology transfer
projects to solve problems identified by companies,
particularly with a cross-sectoral and inter-
disciplinary focus. TTOM Grants are paid directly to
eligible SME companies on a competitive basis, who
will then contract with relevant research groups in
higher education institutes to provide the assistance
required.
The past two years has seen the global economy
contract with most market sectors affected by
the “credit crunch.” This has been especially true
in consumer markets. During this period the
performance by Scottish Photonics companies has

been mixed. Sales from a few have reduced if their
main products address consumer markets. However,
this reduction in sales has been more then matched
by companies increasing their sales in markets which
have shown resilience. Scottish companies have also
accessed new geographic markets during the period.
Part of this expansion will result in a number of
Scottish companies’ presence at the Taiwan Photonics
Festival during June 9th to 11th 2010. The exhibiting
companies will illustrate the breadth of technologies
manufactured in Scotland covering displays, lighting,
laser solutions and fabrication solutions.
CST Global
CSTG is a “pure play” semiconductor foundry
specialising in the design, development, and
manufacture of a wide range of custom discrete and
integrated III-V opto-electronic devices, based in
Glasgow, UK.
Since 1999, CST has provided specialist
foundry services to a wide range of clients in
the telecommunications, defence, medical and
instrumentation markets. They offer full product
support from design to manufacturing, levered off
a comprehensive library of qualified fabrication
processes and a suite of high performance device
platforms. Device design and prototyping including:
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Gas Sensing Solutions
Gas Sensing Solutions (GSS) supplies world
leading CO2 gas sensors. The patented technology
utilises unique III-V solid state light emitting diodes
and photodiodes, replacing high cost incandescent
light sources and pyroelectric detectors used in
Exhibition Watch
standard NDIR sensors. GSS CO2 gas sensors
incorporate gold plated injection moulded collection
optics using patented optics designs, maximising
pathlength and sensor sensitivity. GSS CO2
sensors are 100% tested and calibrated over a wide
temperature range before release to customers.
The carbon dioxide sensor can operate on both
low power and fast response mode. The sensor
has a wide number of applications such as HVAC/
IAQ, safety, agricultural, automotive, industrial,
commercial, more information can be obtained on
the GSS website at www.gassensing.co.uk.
mLED
mLED Ltd is a recently incorporated company,
developing a new breed of gallium nitride (GaN)
LED devices- microLED arrays. Presently, the
technology licensed by mLED is recognised as world-
leading. Already, enquiries have been received from
Europe, North America and Asia. Asia has been
at the forefront of LED lighting. Over a period of
10 years it is expected that solid state light sources
will provide financial savings exceeding a trillion
(1x1012) US$. mLED’s devices are uniquely placed to
be a next generation platform technology for market
areas such as lighting, communications, micro-
displays, microscopy, life-sciences, digital printing,
photolithography, etc.
Forth Dimension Displays
Forth Dimension Displays is the world’s leading
high–resolution near-to-eye (NTE) microdisplay
supplier. Founded as CRLO Displays Ltd. in
September 2004, Forth Dimension Displays is a
privately owned company focused on organic growth
in the markets that benefit the most from our (TDI™)
technology. Based in Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland, the
company also has offices in the US, Europe and Asia.
T h e c omp any prov i d e s a w i d e r ange of
microdisplay solutions optimized for the best
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 41
Exhibition Watch
performance in demanding NTE applications. The
microdisplay products contain proprietary, high
speed, liquid crystal on silicon Time Domain Imaging
(TDI™) technology. The fast, all digital, software-
configured technology delivers high quality and full
color images on a single high resolution microdisplay.
To p r ov i d e t h e b e s t s o l u t i o n s t o
customers, the company also
manufactures and supplies chipsets, for
use in high volume applications; and
development kits (fully functional,
plug and play systems), for use in
development and low to medium
volume applications. In addition, as
a full service solution provider, Forth
Dimension Displays not only sells
products, but offers customers access
to the company’s extensive microdisplay
expertise by undertaking technical feasibility
studies, design implementation and product
realization.
Forth Dimension Displays’ world leading
products and technical services are backed by
ISO9001 approved microdisplay design and
manufacturing site which includes a microdisplay fab
42 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
and supporting assembly and test facilities.
PowerPhotonic
PowerPhotonic designs and manufactures
custom micro-optics devices for laser applications.
The company has a unique capability to accurately
characterize the beams of high-power diode
laser bars and stacks, and to fabricate
custom optics that increase their
br ig ht ness and prov ide b e am
shaping tailored to the application.
Brightness enhancement factors
of x2 and up to x10 have been
demonstrated.
Besides beam correction
p h a s e p l a t e s , t h e c o m p a n y ’s
product portfolio includes also beam
transformers that remap coherent and
incoherent beams onto tailored intensity profiles,
and application-specific micro-optic arrays from
device-scale to wafer-scale.
PowerPhotonic’s technology is based on a
proprietary optical fabrication process that generates
freeform refractive optical surfaces.
 Company Profile

BOE Looking Ahead to

a Greener Economy
by PIDA

“The promulgation of The Act Governing Development of Renewable Energy in last

June is a great step forward to give a huge boost to develop green industries,” said
Huey-Ching Yeh, Director of General of the Bureau of Energy (BOE), an organization
under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) responsible for formulating and
implementing energy policies and laws, in an interview with Photonics Industry &
Technology Development Association (PIDA) in late March, 2010.

A
ccording to the Act, which was passed
after nine years the bill was proposed, it
contains a few essential points that experts
in the industries have anticipated. They
are:
Mr. Yeh, Director of General of the Bureau
of Energy, is optimistic toward the future
development of LED/ PV industry with the
support of government policies.
Courtesy: Canadian Photonics Consortium
1.To provide for the circumstances under which
electricity enterprises, who buy wholesale or produce
renewable energy electricity, may file application for
subsidizing incurred expenses; and to provide for the
methods for calculating the amount of subsidy
2.To specify that for renewable energy power
generation facilities with potentiality in an early
stages of technical development may, for the purpose
of demonstration, be rewarded by the competent
authority within certain period of time
3.To specify that the related provisions of the
Electricity Law shall be applicable to the procedures
for acquiring the land needed, provided that the
installation of renewable energy power generation
facilities and the circuitry of power supply have
reached up to a certain volume
4.To provide for the matters regarding import
tariff exemption for renewable energy power
generation facilities
Mr. Yeh said the statute is expected to fuel the
renewable energy industry by investing in nearly
NT$30 billion dollars (US$ 937 million), aimed to
reach a goal that will not only increases the capacity
from 6,500 to 10,000 Megawatts in the next 20 years,
but also produce over 10,000 jobs. As the registration

OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 43

Company Profile
is regarded to drive local solar, biomass, wind and
other green sectors, Mr. Yeh said it benefits solar and
light-emitting diode (LED) most when it comes to
the specific sub-field of photonics.
Government Support as a
Solid Ground for Taiwan PV
Development
For PV, Mr. Yeh said the government will support
the industry by offering incentives and making
regulations more flexible so as to encouraging
existing providers to strengthen their manufacturing
efforts as well as to attract new comers to improving
competency. The incentives include introducing
a pricing mechanism for each PV player in the
supply chain, evolving several types of leading solar
technologies with research and development-based
companies, and expanding local players’ export
profiles in Europe.
Mr. Yeh explained that BOE has announced
the proposed feed-in tariff rates for PV and other
types of renewable energy in last September. A
tentative rate of NT$ 8.12~9.33 (US$ 0.25~0.28) per
kilowatt-hour (kwh) has been set for PV generated
power. “Nevertheless, the proposed rates have fallen
considerably short of local solar players’ expectations.
The government should invite academics, experts and
organizations to deliberate rates for renewable energy
before publicizing the price,” said Mr. Yeh, adding
that the government will promote renewable energy
use every other year for two decades once the law
takes effect.
Also, Mr. Yeh addressed that Taiwan has always
been a major place for thin-film technology and the
semiconductor industry, which is a huge advantage
to local players to put up barriers to competition. Big
players in the Taiwanese industry are now using this
experience to explore and start new thin-film silicon
solar production initiatives. “We aim to reach a thin-
film silicon solar production rate of15% among
different types of technologies within two years,” said
Mr. Yeh. Beyond that, BOE expected to make efforts
to raise the market share of modules to 15%, as well
as crystal growth to 15% to 18%.
Most important of all, Mr. Yeh said, to successfully
44 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
tap into the markets in strong demand will help
Taiwan PV companies grow sustainably since
Taiwan's PV market size is relatively small. Instead
of counting on Germany and Spain, where are the
two fastest growing major PV markets in the world,
Mr. Yeh said Taiwan PV suppliers have sought way to
crack new markets such as Italy, the U.S. Japan and
South Korea. “Italy has the potential to become one
of the world's most important PV markets because of
financial incentive, good climatic conditions and the
availability of free land,” said Mr. Yeh.
Taiwan to be the World’s Second
Country with Overall LED
Streetlights
For LED, Mr. Yeh is even more thrilled by a
nation-wide policy passed a while ago that the
government is determined to overhaul the street light
system across nation by forbidding manufacturers
from producing incandescent bulbs. “Under the
incandescent-extinction policy, Taiwan will replace
approximately 700,000 electric incandescent street
lights with LED lamps over three years, which makes
it the world’s second country that installs LED
streetlights across the island,” said Mr. Yeh.
According to LEDinside, an institute offering
extensive research information on LED for clients,
the three-year project will likely generate a market
worth more than NT$40 billion dollars, which is
lucrative enough to prompt LED makers planning for
higher volume production and strengthened product
development. Leading players in Taiwan such as
Epstar Corp., Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd, and
Formosa Epitaxy Inc. are searching for opportunities
in this government initiative.
Howe ve r, Mr. Yeh st re ss e d t hat Taiw an
government’s ambition is more than just building an
LED island, but is hoping to lead the players in the
space to reach a higher level. The second step next to
the street light project is to phase out the traditional
traffic lights, architecture light, landscape light and
mercury streetlights on non-main roads. “By 2025,
LED lamps will completely replace incandescent
bulbs both in public and private realms, saving about
3.78 billion kW-hr of electricity per year,” said Mr.

Yeh.
With a clear goal laid down in front, Mr. Yeh said
BOE has drawn up detailed plans help local players
grow in strength. The first priority is to develop
technologies that cover the full range, from critical
light sources, high quality modules widely applied
in a plurality of LED semiconductor bodies, to lamp
design. Mr. Yeh said that Taiwan LED companies
enjoy a competitive edge in the potential trillion-
dollar industry thanks to its solid volume product
manufacturing infrastructure for semiconductor and
optoelectronics. However, “a lack of effective patent
protection for LED light source, Taiwan players’
industrial applicability is limited,” said Mr. Yeh.
Hence, BOE has urged Industrial Technology
Research Institute (ITRI), a non-profit research
institute conducting research and development in
applied technologies to advance private sector growth,
to innovate advanced patents, organize international
workshops to share experiences in the technology,
and to discuss about the standards development and
accreditation process for the industry. In 2009, ITRI
introduced a patented LED innovative technology AC
LED, an ideal design to raise LED’s current tolerance,
allowing the removal of the transformer so LEDs can
be directly powered by household AC power, to help
Taiwan break ground.
To date, the AC LED technology has at least
70 patents covering structure, chip, packaging and
application. Moreover, Taiwan-based Epistar, a
world’s leading manufacturer of high-power LEDs
and a pioneer in the use of solid-state lighting
solutions for everyday purposes, teamed up with
ITRI to producing AC-driven LED chips by using
the ground-breaking technology starting the second
quarter of 2009.
Mr. Yeh said the second step is to build up a
robust cross-Strait environment allowing industry
players on the both sides to standardize products
so as to outflank the global giants in the face of
intense competition from Japan, Germany and the
US. According to Mr. Yeh, characterized as an old
technology with new and diversified applications,
LED should be regarded as a unique concept that
provides a new perspective when it comes to future
Company Profile
development. “China is one of the world’s two largest
home markets, and Taiwan has every reason to take
advantage of that,” said Mr. Yeh.
In fact, in mid 2009 Taiwan government
announced to initiate a talk with China on a
possibility of cooperation in the area of the
standardization of LEDs and a certification system,
a move is aimed to set up a platform for cross-strait
industrial cooperation. Ling Wu, Secretary General
of China Solid State Lighting Alliance, gave a positive
response on a cross-Strait joint conference to seek
common grounds and create a win-win situation.
And a few months later, more than 20 Taiwan LED
manufacturers formed the first vertically functioning
automated industrial chain with the aid of ITRI in
Taiwan.
Mr. Yeh expected to make the initiative an appeal
to China’s LED players to join the alliance because “via
the common testing platform, the product quality
will be enhanced, the compliance with international
standards will be swiftly obtained, and global-
level brands will be strongly established, so LED
manufacturers on the both sides are able to establish
a solid competitive position in the international
market, said Mr. Yeh.
According to local newspaper Taiwan News,
Tsai Chin-yao, chairman of the Solar Photovoltalic
Energy Development Committee under the non-
profit Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International (SEMI) Taiwan, commented after the
passage of the Act that the government's goal is quite
clear if the “Bridge-Building Plan” will be carried
out in conjunction with industry players cross the
Strait. He also noted that recently China made a deal
of technological breakthroughs in LED industry,
which posed a threat to Taiwan in terms of growth.
He suggested Taiwan government cement a closer
relation and strengthen cooperation with China in
a variety of renewable industries would help local
industries explore more opportunities rather than
obstacles.
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 45
Company Profile

TTRI to Perfectly In-

tegrate Technology
and Texle
By PIDA

“Cross cutting issues touching on different sectors between traditional industries and
technology are key activity areas of work for us as we are making a breakthrough
in our advanced research and development,” said Huang Po-Hsiung, Director of
Department of Products of Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI), a non-profit
organization for R&D, testing and evaluating for the Taiwan polymer materials, fiber,
yarn, textile and nonwovens industries, in an interview with Photonics Industry &
Technology Development Association (PIDA) in March, 2010.

T
Fig. 1 Mr. Huang, Director of Department of Products of
TTRI, believes textiles to combine advanced technologies hose issues covered include medical textiles,
is a trend to meet diverse need. environmentally friendly textiles, solar
energy textile products, and composite
nonwoven textiles, as well as brand building,
communications, and marketing. From technology to
the consumer market, TTRI’s reports have the industry
covered.

Role Transforming from

Traditional Industry
Mr. Huang said that TTRI has transformed its
role in the textile industry from a helping hand into a
bellwether by helping local traditional manufacturers
d e vel op m ore i n n ov at ive and v a lu e - a d d e d
products amid the current recession. Also, TTRI is
repositioning itself as the integrator of technology
Courtesy: PIDA

46 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2


Fig.2 TTRI’s showcased its cycling clothing of elec-
tro-textiles in Photonics Festival in Taiwan 2009.
Courtesy: PIDA
and leadership of industry by not only offering a
variety of textile business with customized service
but also multi-integrated and transformed service to
customers.
Textile and apparel industries in Taiwan have
developed more than 50 years, which makes it the
island’s third biggest sector that creates a lot of
foreign exchange since then. The textile took off in
1970s when Taiwan government urged the export
processing industries forward. In 1997, the industry
reached a high peak by creating a value of export
of US$16.7 billion. But since then, it stepped into
a mature stage till now due to several reasons from
surging cost and increasing competition from abroad.
To save the declining industry, Council For
Economic Planning And Development (CEPD), a
government agency responsible for drafting overall
plans for national economic development, in 2001
planned to build a special economic zone for silk
and filament district in the central county of Yunlin,
where is designated for assembling the textile
Company Profile
industry, dealing with hot issues for legislation and
industry planning, and pushing Taiwan into the
textile center of Asia-pacific.
The Three F Principles
Among others, Mr. Huang said there are three F
that Taiwan players must have so it can gain a firm
ground when faced with international competitors.
They are fashion, function and friendly. “Clothing
are not just what they are now, but have to be more
stylish, eco-friendly and even sustainable,” said Mr.
Huang, adding that the current trend for fashion is to
fit one’s lifestyle and lets him lend a helping hand to
the planet.
Additionally, more and more international
brands, be it athletic or fashionable, continually
unveil a line of more eco-friendly products aiming to
use more sustainable, recyclable materials that should
also translate into better quality and public praise for
the future. Mr. Huang said the “green” strategy will
help these big brands keep their stride as consumers
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 47
Company Profile
worldwide might increase spending after a financial
crisis.
Mr. Huang gave an example. The outdoor cycling
clothing has changed comparatively little over time,
give or take a reduction in modesty and the advent of
modern materials, from trousers, jersey, shoes, helmet
to waterproof equipment. TTRI got into the wearable
electronics, a trend that started about 10 years ago
with the introduction of the first commercially
available product in 2000 by American jeans and
casual wear manufacturer Levi Strauss & Co. in
cooperation with some giant electronic company, a
few years ago to explore future trends for fashion and
specialist clothing, especially the intelligent clothing,
which opens up a whole array of multi-functional,
wearable electro-textiles for sensing/monitoring body
functions, delivering communication facilities, data
transfer, individual environment control, and many
other applications.
Fig. 3 A corner of TTRI’s showroom displays ap-
parels with edge-cutting technologies.
Courtesy: PIDA
48 • OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2
Wearable Electronics
T TRI’s te chnolog y is one of t hos e next
generations of wearable electronics with its focus on
the fusion of personal area networking technology
and consumer apparel, bags and other soft goods
accessories. Its ready-to-integrate system consists
of two elements, the patented textile touchpad and
the electronics controller, both the basis for any
wearable electronics integration. The controller is
the interface between the touchpad and a target
consumer electronics device (e.g. iPhone) that allows
the touchpad to be used as a remote control for the
target device.
The integration includes a simple 3-step process.
The first is to choose an ideal touchpad, which is
100% fabric, durable, washable and flexible, for
integration into the existing fabric structures of
garments. It can be overlaid with almost any type of
material, including leather, nylon and canvas.
The second step is to integrate the touchpad
into garment. Mr. Huang said the integration is not
an easy job because the electric wires will have to
be placed with no danger of anything going wrong.
Another important aspect of a wearable electronics
system is the graphical interface to indicate the
location and functions of the controls on the garment
or backpack. The graphics are applied to the outside
(visible) surface so must be durable and fit in with the
style of the fabric product.
The final is to pick a suitable electronics which
translates presses on the touchpad to electrical
signals. These signals are used to control the
operation of a target consumer electronics device
(e.g. iPhone, etc.) through a wired or wireless (e.g.
Bluetooth) connection. The unit/module supports
standard headsets/Bluetooth and also comes with
a separate microphone to handle telephone and
voice communications. Mr. Huang said all activity
is managed from the garment or bag using TTRI’s
textile remote control which is embedded in the
garment.

Solar-powered Textiles
The other textiles under development are
empowered by solar, according to TTRI’s plan. Mr.
Huang said this unique solar power textile is foldable
which is makes it ideal for clothing. Solar textile has
the same softness of clothes. Thus, you can wear it
tension free! “In the near future, bags or jackets made
with solar textiles will provide electricity for PDAs,
mobile phones or digital media players,” said Mr.
Huang.
To make the e-textiles more interesting, Mr.
Huang said TTRI has also launched foldable capacitor
with same features. It has also combines clothing as
solar textile. Experts are estimating that the release
of foldable capacitor in the market will have a huge
impact on products related to wearable electronic.
Just because solar power is dedicated to the
rapid deployment of renewable energy, Mr. Huang
said there are a few more new projects with regard
to solar power shaping up. Among all, the power
textile management system is promising. This project
develops an energy management system involving
Company Profile
flexible ultra capacitors linked with solar cells. This
system can be applied to tents and the outdoor
recharging of small electrical equipment, and has
tremendous potential in outdoor recreation and
military applications.
Several reports conducted by Nokia Corp, the
world's leading mobile phone supplier, and Royal
Philips Electronics Inc., a multinational Dutch
electronics corporation, wearable electronics are
getting popular within 3-5 years, which is a signal for
players in the space to get ready for a demand boom.
Mr. Huang said flexible solar panels and outdoor
electrical navigation optical equipment are two fields
that Taiwan textiles working on. As TTRI is planning
to grant its license to Taiwan players, Mr. Huang is
confident that “with the aid from the government
and academic institutes, local textiles will be well
equipped to hit a milestone for another ten years
growth”.
OPTOLINK International Edition 2010 Q2 • 49