MOSTOPHOS · Project

Software That Predicts Why OLED Screens Degrade Before You Build Them

manufacturingTestedTRL 4

OLED screens — the ones in your phone and high-end TVs — have a dirty secret: they burn out, and nobody fully understands why. Imagine trying to fix a car engine when you can't see inside it. This project built a simulation tool that lets engineers peer inside OLED materials at the molecular level and predict what will go wrong before spending months in the lab. The result is a software package that connects molecular-level physics to real device behaviour, helping R&D teams design longer-lasting OLEDs faster and cheaper.

By the numbers

consortium partners collaborating on the software

industrial partners validating the tools

SMEs involved in the project

countries represented in the consortium

2 by 2 cm

lab-scale OLED demonstrator with improved stability

The business problem

What needed solving

OLED manufacturers lose significant time and money on trial-and-error R&D because device degradation is poorly understood at the molecular level. Multiple failure mechanisms can occur at different scales, and current models are too empirical to predict which materials or designs will last longest. This means expensive physical prototyping cycles and unpredictable product lifetimes that limit market entry for new OLED applications.

The solution

What was built

The project built a multi-scale simulation software package that integrates molecular, mesoscale, and device-level modelling of OLED materials into one tool designed for industrial R&D engineers. They also fabricated a 2 by 2 cm physical OLED demonstrator to validate that the simulation-guided improvements actually translate to better device stability.

Audience

Who needs this

OLED display panel manufacturers (Samsung SDI, LG Display, BOE)Organic semiconductor materials suppliersAutomotive OLED lighting companiesOLED lighting fixture manufacturersR&D simulation software vendors serving the electronics industry

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Display Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: OLED panel manufacturers and materials suppliers

If you are an OLED display manufacturer dealing with unpredictable device lifetimes and costly trial-and-error R&D cycles — this project developed a multi-scale simulation software that lets your materials engineers screen compounds and device designs digitally before fabrication. The consortium validated the approach with a physical 2 by 2 cm demonstrator showing improved stability. This can cut the number of expensive lab experiments needed to optimize new OLED products.

Lighting Industry

mid-size

Target: OLED lighting companies and automotive lighting suppliers

If you are a lighting company struggling with OLED panel degradation that limits product warranties — this project created modelling tools that identify the specific molecular-level failure mechanisms causing your panels to dim or develop dark spots. With 5 industrial partners involved in validation, the software bridges the gap between basic materials science and practical device engineering. It helps you pinpoint which materials or layer compositions will last longest before committing to production.

Chemical and Materials

SME

Target: Specialty chemical companies supplying organic semiconductor materials

If you are a specialty chemical supplier developing new emitter or transport materials for OLEDs and need to prove performance to your customers — this project built simulation workflows that predict how your compounds will behave inside a real device stack. The software integrates molecular, mesoscale, and device-level modelling into one package designed for materials engineers, not just academic researchers. This means you can differentiate your products with simulation-backed performance claims.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this software cost us compared to our current R&D approach?

The project data does not include pricing or licensing terms for the software. However, the tool is designed to reduce the number of physical experiments needed in OLED R&D by enabling digital screening of materials and device configurations. Contact the coordinator to discuss access and licensing options.

Can this work at industrial scale, or is it just a lab curiosity?

The project validated its approach with a physical 2 by 2 cm lab-scale OLED demonstrator. The software is specifically designed to fit into industrial R&D workflows for compound design, not just academic research. Scaling from lab validation to full production integration would require further engineering work with the software provider.

Who owns the IP and how can we license this?

The project consortium includes 11 partners across 5 countries, coordinated by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Germany. IP ownership and licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with the consortium partners. With 5 industrial partners and 4 SMEs involved, there is likely existing commercial licensing experience within the group.

How does this integrate with our existing R&D tools and processes?

The software was built specifically to be usable by materials engineers as a complement to experimental measurements, not a replacement. Based on the project objective, it integrates multiple levels of theoretical characterization into a single package to streamline research workflows. Integration specifics would depend on your current simulation and testing infrastructure.

Is this ready to use today, or still in development?

The project ended in May 2018 and delivered a working software package plus a physical demonstrator. Based on available project data, the tools reached lab-validated status with a 2 by 2 cm device. Post-project developments or commercial availability should be confirmed with the coordinator.

What regulations or standards does this help us meet?

While the project does not directly address regulatory compliance, improved OLED lifetime prediction helps manufacturers meet product warranty requirements and quality standards. The simulation tools can support documentation of materials selection and device design rationale for quality management systems.

Consortium

Who built it

The MOSTOPHOS consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, with 11 partners across 5 countries (Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland). Nearly half the consortium (45%) comes from industry, including 4 SMEs — a strong signal that the software was built with commercial users in mind, not just academic publications. The coordinator, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, is one of Europe's top research organizations, lending scientific credibility. The mix of 4 universities and 2 research institutes alongside 5 industrial players suggests the software was stress-tested against real manufacturing needs during development.

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EVCoordinator · DE
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATAparticipant · IT
FLUXIM AGparticipant · CH
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
BASF SEparticipant · DE
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVENparticipant · NL
COSMOLOGIC GMBH & COKGparticipant · DE
CYNORA GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEAparticipant · ES
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDENparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften, Germany — use CORDIS contact form or search for the MOSTOPHOS project coordinator.

Order a report on this consortium See MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the MOSTOPHOS team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right person to discuss licensing, collaboration, or pilot testing of the simulation software.

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