BASF invests in U.S. technology company QD Vision
- QD Vision’s quantum dot technology allows significant improvements of LCD display color performance and energy efficiency
- BASF Venture Capital to invest $4 million
Lexington, Massachusetts and Ludwigshafen, Germany – November 9, 2015 – BASF is participating with $4 million through BASF Venture Capital in the U.S. technology firm QD Vision Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts. QD Vision is a technology leader for quantum dots, a class of nanomaterials with unique electro-optical properties and a wide range of applications in display, lighting, photo-voltaic, sensors, and diagnostics. QD Vision has developed and commercialized performance and cost-leading quantum dot-based components that enable a significantly improved color gamut of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) at minimal incremental cost.
The two companies also announced a joint development agreement for a quantum dot-enhanced backlight and a color filter for use in LCD displays. The collaboration responds to a growing demand for wide color gamut technologies. Wide color gamut technology will enable displays to show millions more colors than today’s Ultra High-Definition (UHD) or 4K displays.
“QD Vision’s products allow an unmatched LCD viewing experience with significantly lower energy consumption. We expect that the innovation will find widespread application in next generation LCD devices,” said Dirk Nachtigal, Managing Director at BASF Venture Capital.
Conventional LCD TVs use white LEDs in the system backlight. These white LEDs have broadband light emission, and as a result the red, green and blue colors generated by the color filter are not fully saturated. By comparison, the color IQ™ technology of QD Vision emits very pure, saturated, narrow bandwidth red, green and blue light that is optimized for LCDs. With this, QD Vision is well positioned to participate in the trend of UHD displays, which combine higher resolution, better contrast, as well as wider color gamut.
“The fact that current standard LCD technology is capable of displaying only around a third of the colors a human eye can see indicates the improvement potential in this field. Combining QD Vision’s Color IQ technology with BASF’s competencies in color filters will allow us to jointly develop advanced display materials matching next generation display color standards,” said Jeff Knight, Senior Vice President Dispersions and Pigments Asia Pacific at BASF and responsible for BASF’s Electronic Specialties business.
QD Vision will use the investment to further increase its global customer base and to extend its portfolio of advanced color solutions for its customers.
About QD Vision, Inc.
QD Vision, Inc. is a leader in quantum dot display technology for QLED displays. Quantum dot technology is a superior next-generation alternative to OLED displays, providing unparalleled color representation at a highly competitive LCD cost structure. Color IQ quantum dot technology from QD Vision provides a unique optical component solution capable of delivering “full-gamut” color to the display industry. Founded in 2004, the company has raised more than $100 million in financing from top-tier venture capital firms and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts. http://www.coloriq.com
About BASF Venture Capital
BASF Venture Capital GmbH was established in 2001 as a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF New Business GmbH, Ludwigshafen, Germany, with the aim of exploring new growth potentials based on investment in startup companies and funds. More information is available at www.basf-vc.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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