South Korea is the home of the largest OLED supplier in the world, Samsung.
Naturally, OLED forms an key part of the country’s technological prowess and presently, it’s taking steps to make certain it can keep control above it. The country is looking to limit the exports of OLED production equipment to China. In this regard, it’s considering designating ‘OLED equipment’ as a ‘national core technology’. Once done, companies would require mandatory government approval for their exportation.
Although we can’t be Of course of its effects on the supply of OLED panels worldwide, this shift isn’t fairly surprising given that recently a parts supplier of Samsung, Toptec, was accused of selling the company’s OLED technology to China’s BOE. At present, Huawei is proving to be a tough competition for the South Korean giant, Samsung, with its aggressive R&D investments ($14 billion in 2017 too!) and expansion in Europe. Both the telephone giants are coming to release their versions of foldable phones (all upcoming foldables from important manufacturers here!) in the expected months. China’s BOE is working with Huawei for its foldable, and the recent issue of an OLED technological sale between BOE and Toptec would surely have sent South Korean officials on a path of caution.
Currently, display screen design, process, manufacturing, and drive are considered as ‘national core technology’ in South Korea. But, soon, there could possibly be a lot more additions, including OLED production equipment and about 10 a lot more key technologies from other sectors. So, it’s crystal clear that South Korea is trying to tighten its grip to avoid any kind of leak to China.
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