LG Display working on stretchable displays

LG Display will lead Korean governments project to develop stretchable displays

SEOUL, Korea — LG Display, the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, announced today that it has been selected by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) to lead its national project to develop stretchable displays.

LG Display will oversee the large-scale R&D project which is a major part of MOTIE’s push since 2019 to propel South Korea’s next-generation display industry by fostering the development of core technologies.

The company is aiming to develop stretchable display products with a 20 percent elongation rate by 2024.

“LG Display will develop stretchable displays, a new form factor which could vastly widen the scope of applications that displays can be applied to. In the era of IoT, 5G, and self-driving cars, stretchable displays will play a huge role and we are very pleased and honored to be an important part of the development of these technologies and products,” said Dr. Soo-Young Yoon, Senior Vice President and Head of LG Display Laboratory. “Through this R&D project, LG Display looks to contribute to the evolution of future display technologies while solidifying its leadership position in the industry with a portfolio of various next-generation display technologies.”

Stretchable displays are considered to be the ideal next-generation technology because they can shift in ‘free form’, similar to the way a rubber band stretches, while not affecting the quality of displays such as through screen distortion. By comparison, existing commercial flexible display technologies such as bendable, foldable, and rollable panels excel only in particular areas or directions. Thus, stretchable displays are considered the final phase of the evolution of flexible displays.

The great flexibility of stretchable displays means there is vast potential in terms of applications for this technology upon completion. These include multi-foldable smart devices, wearable devices with excellent fit and no movement restrictions, and auto and aviation displays that overcome design constraints caused by curved surfaces. It is expected that the scope of application and market potential will be almost endless.

While carrying out this project, LG Display will be leading a collective of 21 entities, including related companies, research institutes, and universities, in addition to developing core technologies, obtaining patents, and creating and preoccupying new high value-added markets through the development of stretchable displays. All the entities will work together to develop relevant materials, components, and equipment to build a robust environment for Korea’s future display technologies.