The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched the AMOLED Research Centre (ARC), a National Centre of Excellence, to develop next-generation AMOLED displays for digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. The Centre is supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Tata Sons.
The new facility aims to advance India’s display manufacturing capabilities and reduce dependency on imports. Researchers at the ARC will work on innovative techniques to create cost-effective AMOLED displays, focusing on small-sized screens for consumer devices.
The Centre was inaugurated by S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, at the IIT Madras campus. Key attendees included Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras; Dr Debdutta Ray, Principal Investigator of the AMOLED Research Centre; and officials from MeitY and DRDO.
Speaking at the event, S Krishnan highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “The AMOLED Research Centre marks an important step in advancing India’s manufacturing capabilities. This Centre will not only boost research and development but also support India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in display technology.”
NEXT-GEN DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
The ARC houses state-of-the-art facilities, including clean rooms for fabrication and testing. Its research focusses on developing a modular approach to display production, enabling smaller and more efficient manufacturing units. The Centre also explores prototypes for OLED lighting and organic photovoltaic (OPV) power sources for mobile devices.
Professor V Kamakoti noted that the global AMOLED market is worth approximately USD 15 billion and is expected to grow. “This Centre will play a crucial role in supporting the semiconductor and display industry in India while contributing to the global market,” he said.
Dr Debdutta Ray, Principal Investigator, explained the innovative approach being pursued at the Centre. “Our focus is on ‘economies-of-speed,’ which aims to reduce production times and costs by using smaller-scale modular production systems. This approach differs from traditional economy-of-scale models,” he said.
The ARC at IIT Madras is positioned to be a significant step toward advancing India’s display manufacturing industry, with a focus on innovation and scalability to meet domestic and global demand.