University of Strathclyde to spin-off microLEDs company called mLED

Glasgow, Scotland--The University of Strathclyde secured a spin-out deal to form a company working in the field of novel next-generation light source technology, which could open up a range of opportunities in multi-billion dollar applications including neuroscience, microscopy, and communications. mLED Ltd. specializes in micro light-emitting diodes (microLEDs), devices made up of thousands of tiny emitters producing light in a compact, integrated package. Unlike other micro-display technologies, microLEDs are dense arrays of miniature light sources that are pattern programmable and do not require a plethora of external components, such as optics and switching matrices, to modulate the light pattern, thereby making them more compact and efficient.

Braveheart Investment Group led the 150,000 Pound ($227,000) funding round into mLED, investing via both the Strathclyde Innovation Fund (SIF) and the Alpha EIS Fund. Scottish Enterprise's Scottish Seed Fund also participated in the round. Jim Bonar, chief executive of mLED, said, "This is a very exciting international area of technology but there are only a few companies in the world which have recognised the opportunity and demonstrated capability in this area. We are producing a platform technology that is compact, robust, reliable and versatile. MicroLEDs have particularly strong potential for evolving life science markets such as neuroscience and for the emerging telecoms market of pico projectors, as well as for printing, microscopy and next-generation general lighting arrangements. The power density, versatility and compactness of microLEDs makes them ideally suited for these applications."

The technology was developed at Strathclyde's Institute of Photonics by a research team led by Professor Martin Dawson, the Institute's Director of Research, Associate Director Dr Erdan Gu and Research Technologist Dr Gareth Valentine, all of whom will act as consultants to mLED.

The spin-out of mLED follows the recent launch of SU2P, a Strathclyde-led partnership between academic institutions in Scotland and California, capitalizing on the academic and commercial strengths of the photonics sector. SU2P is funded by EPSRC, through the RCUK Science Bridges awards, the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise.

Strathclyde was recently rated as one of the U.K.'s top 10 universities to work with by the business community. The University has formed more than 50 spin-out companies.

SOURCE: University of Strathclyde; www.strath.ac.uk/press/newsreleases/headline_305384_en.html

--Posted by Gail Overton; [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com