HSINCHU, TAIWAN--(Marketwire - November 11, 2010) - ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), Taiwan's largest and one of the world's leading high-tech research and development institutions, will accept three 2010 R&D 100 Awards this evening in Orlando, Fla. for its innovative, breakthrough technologies: Reddex (Materials Science category), the first non-toxic fire resistant composite material technology to simultaneously offer ignition resistance and fire protection in one system, effectively reducing the risks associated with structure fires; i2/3DW (Electronic Instrumentation category), an innovative technology to integrate 2D and 3D information for simultaneous display on the same screen visible to the naked eye; and FlexUPD (Electronic Instrumentation category), the first technology to enable the commercialization of paper-thin, low-cost flexible flat displays for electronic products.
"It is a great honor to be recognized by a publication as prestigious and influential as R&D Magazine," said Dr. John Chen, general director of ITRI's Display Technology Center. "Our research teams have worked diligently to develop these three innovative technologies. We expect each to be a breakthrough in its industry."
Reddex introduces a new family of polymer inorganic composite which provides ignition resistance and effectively slows the rate at which fire burns -- it is unique in its combination of these advantages. This allows more time for people to escape, for less -- and non-toxic -- smoke to be produced -- one of the most harmful aspects of a fire -- and for fire fighters to get to the scene before the fire has dramatically spread and intensified, limiting the building's structural damage -- which can save lives and money.
Reddex will be tested in the U.S. within one year and ITRI expects it to be globally commercialized within three years by material manufacturers, and the fire protection, coatings and building industries.
i2/3DW is a next generation 2D/3D switchable display technology and can simultaneously integrate naked eye 3D displays with regular 2D information. This breakthrough solves the problems previously associated with 2D/3D displays -- a lack of integration forcing viewers to switch between 2D and 3D modes -- and 3D displays -- blurry text and specific eyewear. With i2/3DW, 2D texts are as clear as they are on a 2D screen and 3D images are as fascinating as on a 3D screen, but can now coexist on the same screen for optimal viewing quality.
ITRI's FlexUPD ushers in a new generation of flexible electronics. It is the simplest and most inexpensive technology to allow for the mass manufacture of paper-like, flexible flat panel displays thinner than any displays currently on the market. This flexibility allows for two-sided surface visibility for display or non-display products -- rollable mobile phone screens, e-books, e-maps and medical sensors that can be worn or wrapped around the body, etc. -- to be light, malleable and unbreakable.
ITRI is currently licensing both i2/3DW and FlexUPD.
For the past 48 years, The R&D 100 Awards have annually identified and recognized the 100 most significant and revolutionary technologies newly introduced to the market. Past winning technologies include the printer (1986) and HDTV (1998). An R&D 100 Award serves as a mark of excellence to industry, government and academia and confirms the technology is one of the top innovations of the year. This year's winners will be honored at a ceremony this evening in Orlando, Fla.
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.
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