ITRI Introduces HyTAC(TM), the First Award-Winning, Eco-Friendly Polarizer Protective Film for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)

HSINCHU, TAIWAN--(Marketwire - Oct 10, 2011) - ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), Taiwan's largest and one of the world's leading high-tech research and development institutions, introduces HyTAC™, the world's first environmentally friendly polarizer protective film for LCD displays used in consumer electronics. The breakthrough materials and production processes used in the development of HyTAC™ will make the production of LCD displays 50 percent more eco-friendly, improve performance in LCD transparency and stability, and provide a safer manufacturing environment for employees while reducing production costs. ITRI will receive a "2011 R&D 100 Award" from R&D Magazine this week for its revolutionary technology.

Previously, harmful toxic chemicals such as dichlormethane and methanol were needed to produce traditional TAC film, a critical component layer in LCDs. With the rapid growth of the LCD panel market -- key to producing popular consumer electronics such as LCD televisions, computer monitors, mobile phones and GPS receivers -- a green alternative for both the safety of manufacturers and the environment was needed.

After years of development, ITRI created HyTAC™, which uses a unique organic and inorganic silicon dioxide nano hybrid material technology rather than the dangerous toxic solvents traditionally used. By not using dichlormethane, which requires using expensive processing equipment to ensure no leakage and residue in the production process, HyTAC™ can reduce two-thirds of the cost for exhaust recycling equipment and cut the overall manufacturing facility cost by approximately 60 percent.

"The ITRI HyTAC™ project team has succeeded in transforming the way LCD displays are produced by developing a breakthrough process for manufacturing polarizer film without the use of toxic chemicals," said Shih-Ming Chen, research supervisor at ITRI's Material and Chemical Research Laboratories. "The highly transparent optical film and low-toxicity manufacturing processes not only conform to the trend of environmental protection, but will also replace the use of traditional TAC polarizer protective film wherever it is used."

The zero retardation optical property of HyTAC™ is suitable for use in the new generation IPS Mode LCD displays giving it extensive market application potential. Currently, ITRI has licensed this technology to the relevant domestic manufacturers for mass production process development. The LCD display material technology will bring forth a new wave of market development opportunities for HyTAC™ technology.

ITRI will receive a "2011 R&D 100 Award" for the HyTAC™ technology from R&D Magazine this week along with the recently announced ITRI i2R e-Paper™ electronic paper technology. ITRI has received an R&D Award four years in a row. In the preceding three years, the company won R&D 100 Awards for On-Chip AC LED lighting technology, STOBA, a high safety lithium battery, eco-friendly fire retardant material, REDDEX and regional 2D/3D switching three-dimensional display and multi-purpose flexible electronic substrate technology.

ITRI has applied for six patents for HyTAC™, three of which have been granted. ITRI is in the process of transferring the technology to a local company in Taiwan, TacBright Optronics Corp. for exclusive distribution. HyTAC™ technology may be licensed to other companies in the future. If interested, companies can contact ITRI at 1-408-428-9988 or 0800@itri.org.tw for more information.

ITRI, headquartered in Taiwan, has offices in the United States, Japan, Russia and Germany in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote opportunities for international cooperation. In the U.S., it has long-term collaborative arrangements with MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. Globally, it has 23 international cooperations with major companies such as IBM, HP, Microsoft, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Kodak, Lucent and Motorola.

To date, ITRI holds more than 14,571 patents and has assisted in the creation of more than 163 start-ups and spin-offs. In 2011, the institute received four prestigious international awards: The Excellent Organization, Solar Industry Awards in UK for Solar Radome, two R&D 100 Awards for i2R e-Paper and HyTAC and the Silver Award for The Society for Information Display (SID) Display of the Year Awards (DYA) for ITRI Flexible Substrate for Displays. In 2010, the institute received five prestigious international awards: The Overall Gold Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award for its FlexUPD technology, runner-up in the Semiconductor category for its MDPS (Micro-Deformable Piezoresistive Sensor Technology) and three R&D 100 Awards for FlexUPD, i2/3DW and Reddex. In 2009, the institute also received four prestigious international awards: The Wall Street Journal's 2009 Technology Innovation Award for its FleXpeaker technology, an R&D 100 Award for the High Safety STOBA Lithium Battery Material Technology, the iF Design Award from the International Forum Design in Germany for ITRA's Fluid Driven Lighting System, and the Red Dot Design Award by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany, for its Flexio Radio Technology.

About ITRI (www.itri.org.tw/eng)
Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a nonprofit R&D organization engaging in applied research and technical services. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's economy from a labor-intensive industry to a high-tech industry. Numerous well-known, high-tech companies in Taiwan, such as leaders in the semiconductor industry TSMC and UMC, can trace their origins to ITRI.

Innovative Research
ITRI is a multidisciplinary research center, with six core laboratories, three focus centers, five linkage centers, several leading labs and various business development units. The six fields ITRI focuses on include Information and Communication; Electronics and Optoelectronics; Material, Chemical and Nanotechnologies; Biomedical Technologies and Device; Advanced Manufacturing and Systems; and Green Energy and Environment. ITRI has aggressively researched and developed countless next-generation technologies, including WIMAX wireless broadband, solar cells, RFID, light electric vehicles, flexible displays, 3-D ICs and telecare technologies. In addition, ITRI's Flexible Electronics Pilot Lab and Nanotechnology Lab provide international-level research platforms where R&D can be conducted jointly with partners. ITRI has also seen significant growth in intellectual property business and new ventures in recent years and is devoted to creating a model that would make Taiwan manufacturing even more competitive in the international arena.

Fostering Entrepreneurship and CEO Leadership
ITRI employs 5,728 personnel, including 1,163 who hold Ph.D.s and 3,152 with master's degrees, resulting in an average of five patents produced every day. By disseminating both technology and talent, ITRI has led the technology industry into the 21st century and has cultivated 70 CEOs in the local high-tech industry. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the California Silicon Valley, Tokyo, Berlin and Moscow.