Solid state lighting : strategies for a brighter future

Abstract

Combining an understanding of the technical progress and potential of semiconductor light emitting materials with an analysis of market adoption reveals useful insights into challenges and opportunities in the growing field of solid state lighting. The integration of discrete LEDs into solid state lighting systems is identified as a critical area of both technical and business development and the key to creating useful products and expanding new markets. Analysis of conventional and emerging optosemiconductor lighting industries highlights important differences of influence within the value chain. For solid state lighting, the significance of system integration shifts control away from large LED manufacturers and closer to the end user. Special focus on companies pursuing the system integrator role compares strategies for technology based niche players with strategies for joint venture companies formed by alliances of large lighting and semiconductor companies. Based on technology capability, industry conditions, and historical analogy, solid state lighting is projected to achieve wider adoption primarily through the growth of new applications and markets, not through the substitution of existing lighting business.