ITRI's Two Breakthrough Green Technologies, i2R e-Paper(TM) and HyTAC(TM), Receive 2011 R&D 100 Awards

HSINCHU, TAIWAN--(Marketwire - Oct 13, 2011) - ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), Taiwan's largest and one of the world's leading high-tech research and development institutions, will accept two 2011 R&D 100 Awards this evening in Orlando, Fla. for its innovative, breakthrough technologies: i2Re-Paper™ (Materials Sciences category), the first green re-writable and re-usable electronic paper technology to provide an environmentally friendly recyclable print medium alternative to traditional paper and ink consumption, and HyTAC ™ (Thin-film and Vacuum Technologies category), the world's first environmentally friendly polarizer protective film for LCD displays used in many consumer electronics.

"It is a great honor to be recognized again by a publication as prestigious and influential as R&D Magazine," said Dr. Janglin (John) Chen, general director of ITRI's Display Technology Center. "Our research teams work continuously to develop technologies that are both innovative and respectful of the world's fragile ecology. We expect both of these technologies to be breakthroughs in their respective industries."

i2R e-Paper's special energy-conserving display technology -- a flexible cholesteric liquid crystal panel -- requires only heat to store and transmit images, without using expensive inks. i2R e-Paper delivers a 300 dpi high-resolution and 16 grey level image that remains crisp until users decide to re-write the e-paper. It is both eco-friendly and re-writable close to 300 times.

i2R e-Paper™, whether note card or banner roll size, does not consume electricity to maintain an image. To print and change content, users simply need a thermal head printer. Heat generated from the thermal head uses minimal power and interacts with the environmentally friendly composition of the e-Paper to capture an image. Re-using the i2R e-Paper is as easy as putting it back into any thermal printer device. The old image is removed and replaced with a new one -- no ink, no toner and no paper are consumed.

HyTAC™ eco-friendly polarizer protective film for liquid crystal displays (LCD) represents an alternative to traditional triacetyl cellulose (TAC) manufacturing processes. Previously, harmful toxic chemicals such as dichlormethane and methanol were needed to produce traditional TAC film, a critical component layer in LCDs. After years of development, ITRI created HyTAC™, which uses a unique organic and inorganic silicon dioxide nano hybrid material technology rather than toxic solvents. 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 is currently licensing both the i2R e-Paper™ and HyTAC™ technologies. For more information, contact ITRI at 1-408-428-9988 or 0800@itri.org.tw.

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.