Nitto Denko invests in organic electronic device research

SINGAPORE: Nitto Denko Corp., a leading diversified materials company, opened the Nitto Denko Asia Technical Centre (NAT), the company's second centre in Singapore to spearhead and manage its R&D operations.

The new Centre will focus strongly on integrated organic electronic device development, making Nitto Denko the first company in Singapore to pioneer R&D in this area. The event was officiated by Lim Chuan Poh, the Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

Situated in the recently-opened Fusionopolis, NAT will undertake the company's Integrated Organic Optoelectronic Sensing Device Project in collaboration with the A*STAR Data Storage Institute (DSI), A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

At the opening ceremony, Nitto Denko inked agreements with DSI, IMRE and NTU to fund and carry out three separate and concurrent research projects on the development of novel organic electronic sensing devices. Nitto Denko plans to invest S$10 million over the three-year research term.

The R&D projects will fuse Nitto Denko's specialty knowledge and technology in polymer waveguides with DSI, IMRE and NTU’s expertise in Complex Vibration Numerical/Experimental Analysis, Organic Electronics and Photonic Research respectively. Nitto Denko believes that the collaboration will lead to several breakthrough technologies, especially in the field of organic electronics, which will allow for the development of novel, miniaturised, affordable and high-sensitivity sensor products.

The choice to situate NAT at Fusionopolis was a strategic decision to enable the centre to tap the rich expertise in physical science and engineering available at Fusionopolis, as well as the biomedical research expertise at the nearby Biopolis.

Said Dr. Yasuo Ninomiya, Chief Technology Officer of Nitto Denko: "The opening of Nitto Denko Asia Technical Centre is a milestone event and a step forward for the company as it extends Nitto Denko's R&D expertise in the area of device development. We look forward to collaborating with DSI, IMRE and NTU to conduct high-quality research and develop sophisticated sensor products that will have multiple applications in healthcare, electronics and environmental-related industries."

"Nitto Denko's decision to beef up R&D here underscores Singapore's growth as a science, technology and research hub. In fact, Singapore is Nitto Denko's fourth Global R&D site after Japan, the United States and Europe. With a pool of local and foreign talent to tap on and a strong R&D infrastructure and intellectual property laws, we see Singapore playing a vital role in advancing the company's research and product development efforts", Dr Ninomiya added.

Nitto Denko Asia Technical Centre started operations this September and currently employs a multi-disciplinary team of seven R&D engineers and scientists. The laboratory work for the research will be carried out at the facilities in DSI, IMRE and NTU. Over the next few years, NAT intends to increase its staff strength to 20-25 including intellectual property specialists to oversee the business and operational aspects of the research projects.

"Organic electronics is a new growth sector for Singapore," said Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR. "Since 2000, A*STAR science and engineering research institutes have been growing technological capabilities in every facet of organic plastic electronics ranging from materials to manufacturing."

He added: "Nitto Denko could not have chosen a better location to set up its new R&D centre. Fusionopolis has a spectrum of world class physical sciences and engineering research capabilities and scientific infrastructure that will complement Nitto Denko's focus on organic electronics R&D. In addition, the company can also tap on the biomedical know-how of A*STAR research institutes at the nearby Biopolis, as well as leverage on the close proximity to hospitals to test-bed its innovations. Through this collaboration, I am confident that we will see new innovations that will not only benefit Nitto Denko, but also help to develop new areas in Singapore's economy."

Organic or plastic electronics is a new area of growth identified by the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB), as part of Singapore's strategy to promote new activities in the rapidly-changing high-tech industry. In 2007, electronics accounted for almost 30 per cent of manufacturing output and about 7 per cent of Singapore's GDP. Organic electronics will complement and diversify existing activities in Singapore's electronics industry, and will ensure that electronics continues to be an important pillar of Singapore's economy.

Principal Investigator Assoc Prof Tjin Swee Chuan, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University said: "Our project utilises Nitto Denko's polymer to create micron-sized optical waveguides using NTU's patented laser technique which is simpler and more cost effective. An optical waveguide is a physical structure that guides electromagnetic waves. The optical waveguides that we are researching can be used in biosensor for early detection of diseases such as SARS or heart diseases. With our four patented techniques which can be potentially used in the development of this biosensor, we are confident that this will be a very fruitful partnership."

While traditional electronics rely on inorganic conductors such as copper or silicon, organic electronics deals with carbon-based conductive polymers, plastics and small molecules. Research has shown conductive polymers to be lighter, flexible and less expensive, making it a viable option for use in high-tech devices such as semiconductors, light emitters, electronic paper, smart glass and even plastic solar cells that are low-cost and highly portable.