Display Fabrication Plant Considerations in India

Micro-OLED Technology

• Considered for India's first display fabrication plant by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity).
• Features: 
  1. Extremely high resolution
  2. Very small and thin panels
  3. Greater brightness
  4. More power-efficient than OLED and LCD
• Currently used in: 
  1. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) devices
  2. Military and aviation viewfinders
  3. High-end cameras and specialized devices

Debate Among Stakeholders

• Stakeholders include original equipment manufacturers and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies.
• Arguments for LCD technology: 
  1. Widely available and affordable
  2. Strong demand projected in India
  3. Cost of LCD-powered display fab: $2-3 billion
• Critics of micro-OLED: 
  1. Considered expensive and in its infancy
  2. Limited current demand
• Some EMS players advocate for advanced OLED technology.

Government and Global Perspectives

• Senior Meity official highlights: 
  1. LCD is outdated and dominated by Chinese production (90%).
  2. OLED technology controlled by South Korea, with China catching up.
  3. Micro-OLED seen as revolutionary for the future.
• India's ₹75,000 crore semiconductor scheme sees display fabs as a missing element.
• Global momentum towards micro-OLED technology with key players like Sony, Samsung, LG, BOE, and Apple involved.
• Industry experts predict the global micro-OLED market will grow from $1.5-3 billion in 2025 to over $25 billion by 2030.

Challenges and Future Outlook

• India faces challenges in accessing advanced technology, limited to few countries.
• LCD supporters argue for volume dominance, expecting it to comprise 55-58% of the global market by 2030.
• Potential upgrade path from LCD to OLED with additional investment of $500 million to $1 billion.
• Advocates for OLED argue it represents the future despite access challenges.