Wave Issue 0503 1/21/05 Article 1-01

***A Permanent European Platform for Advanced Displays
Coordination action to Strengthen the EU Displays Community

ADRIA-0104
November 9, 2004

A consortium of six European organizations – four industry
associations and two academic networks – has announced that they
have started ADRIA (Advanced Displays Research Integration
Action), a network project to enhance the competitiveness of the
European advanced displays community. Funded by the European
Commission, ADRIA aims to create a “one stop shop” for modern
information display technologies and applications for Europe.
European researchers and suppliers are global drivers in display
innovation – on the other hand Europe is a major influence on the
market for display applications. However, European R&D is
scattered, and lacks both collaboration and a strong production
base. ADRIA’s six partners are:

• the German Flat Panel Display Forum (DFF) within the German
Engineering Federation VDMA,

• Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI),

• the Scottish Optoelectronics Association (SOA),

• the French Club VISU also representing the European chapters
of the International Society for Information Display (SID),

• the Swedish LCD Center and

• the University of Dundee in the UK.

The European Commission was convinced and funds the 2-year
project with Euro 1 M from the IST priority of their 6th
framework program.

Apart from carrying out a comprehensive review of European
activities in the display field and making it accessible in a
comprehensive database, other goals of ADRIA include a Europe-
focused technology roadmap for the displays sector, the
development of a coherent approach to education and training of
display engineers as well as the consolidation and enhancement of
standards knowledge.

The two year project is just the start. A call for such an
action sent out by DFF last year, resulted in almost 100
Expressions of Interest from all over Europe.

Among their overall competence in the display field, the partners
have distinct knowledge in the fields ADRIA addresses with
specific work packages:

• SEMI are well known for their standards work in flat panel
displays,

• SOA has a track record of successful technology roadmapping ,
including two generations of display technology roadmaps,

• Club VISU already organizes training events in France, and –
with SID – the international “Eurodisplay” conferences,

• the Swedish LCD Center and the University of Dundee are
already running separate Masters level degree programs in display
technology,

• and VDMA is the largest industry association in Europe with an
over 100 year old tradition in running and financing networks.
ADRIA will soon approach the European display community with
calls for information input and will set up meetings, conferences
and workshops to kick-off the planned activities and services.

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