Imagine printing a TV screen like you print a document, but instead of ink, you're using tiny, smart light-bulbs. Usually, these screens need a massive, expensive electronic 'backboard' made in Asia to work. This technology puts the brain inside each tiny light-bulb, removing the need for that expensive backboard and allowing screens to be printed on flexible materials.
European display manufacturing is non-competitive because it relies on Asian-made TFT panels that require multi-billion euro investments and use harmful greenhouse gases.
An active µLED-on-CMOS printing process and two display demonstrators, including a 4x4 pixel addressable matrix and a full module substrate.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with the high cost and environmental impact of Asian-made TFT panels — this project developed a microprinting process for active µLEDs that eliminates the need for TFT arrays. This allows for the production of high-brightness, large-scale screens with lower energy consumption.
If you are a provider dealing with the rigidity and energy costs of traditional LED walls — this project developed a method to print electrical structures on low-cost substrates. This enables the creation of fine-pitch, high-brightness video walls that can be flexible.
If you are a producer dealing with the high energy use and greenhouse gases of traditional display factories — this project developed an additive manufacturing process. This allows for a green display industry in Europe that outperforms LCDs in most environmental impact categories.
It eliminates the need for Thin Film Transistor (TFT) arrays, which require investments of a few billion euros per factory and are energy-intensive to produce.
Yes, the objective is to produce high-brightness, very fine pitch µLED displays at TV sizes or larger using microprinting on low-cost substrates.
Based on available project data, the technology relies on active µLEDs on silicon by ALEDIA and printing technology from the University of Stuttgart and other partners, but specific licensing terms are not listed.
The project runs from 2022-09-01 to 2025-08-31, with ALEDIA currently constructing a new European manufacturing line.
It replaces the Asian-dominated TFT supply chain with a European additive manufacturing process using micro-printed electrical and optical structures.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with an 86% industry ratio, consisting of 6 companies and 1 university across 5 countries. With 3 SMEs involved and a coordinator (ALEDIA) that is an SME, the project is structured for commercial translation rather than pure academic research, focusing on the immediate setup of a European manufacturing line.
Contact ALEDIA in France regarding their new European manufacturing line.
Contact us to explore licensing the additive manufacturing process for µLEDs.
