EL-SEED in Japan found a technology for an energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) that can replace traditional light bulbs in lighting. The technology belonged to the Swedish company Optovent who had a patent. Now the two parties have initiated a cooperation.

In August 2010 EL-SEED Corp. signed an agreement with Optovent in which the patent may be used by EL-SEED in exchange for partnership with the Swedish scientists. The cooperation is a perfect match of technology from two different science teams. On their own, the technology possessed by the parties wouldn’t have led to a commercial product.  Now there is an opportunity to develop a product together. The investment ensures continued research and development  in Sweden for a project team consisting of six Swedish and two Japanese scientists.

Technology to replace light bulbs

The Japanese government facilitates the project by funding 46 million SEK (€4.6 million)  through NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization), its organization for technical development, eg. oil-alternative energy technologies. The Swedish LED technology was invented by associate professor Mikael Syväjärvi and professor Rositza Yakimova at the Linköping University. It has taken 15 years to find a method to develop the fluorescent semiconductor material into a white LED with clean light and high efficiency. This technology can replace light bulbs in lighting.

 EL-SEED have previously tried to apply another technology but now wish to complement their process with the Swedish method in order to achieve commercial production faster. The market for white LED is estimated to $ 40 million per year.

–  It is very rewarding to transform a dormant technology project like this into such a major business opportunity, says the CEO of Accelerator, the incubator of which Optovent AB is a part.

Support from Invest Sweden

Invest Sweden have provided EL-SEED with information on Swedish research collaborations, Swedish rules and  regulations and activities of other Japanese companies in Sweden. In addition Invest Sweden have participated as consultants in the negotiations between Optovent and EL-SEED.