Chinese Research Organisation Opens Office at TU Delft  

The Chinese State Key Laboratory has opened an office for research into Solid State Lighting (LED lighting) within TU Delft’s research institute DIMES. Together, SKL and TU Delft aim to expand knowledge and to attract more financing for research into solid state lighting or LED lighting. TU Delft opened its first research centre in China in 2011 followed by another three centres last November.

“With a view to saving energy, China earmarked 22 billion yuan (2.8 billion euro) in 2011 for the promotion of ‘green lighting’, primarily LED lighting. Research into LED technology is at the cutting edge in both China and the Netherlands, so working together with complementary knowledge is interesting for both parties,” says Kees Beenakker, director of the TU Delft research centre in Beijing. “Our cooperation in China gives us access to knowledge, scientific talent and funds. The establishment of a Chinese office in Delft gives them a gateway to interesting developments and investors in Europe.”

SKL opted for the Netherlands owing to the excellent innovation ecosystem and for Delft in particular on account of the existing fruitful cooperation in Beijing, the know-how and expertise of research school DIMES (microsystems and nanoelectronics) and the proximity of TNO, which also carries out LED research. It is the first time that the organisation has opened a branch outside China.

The State Key Laboratory comprises two leading institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other LED research centres and is led by the Chinese Solid State Lighting Alliance with support from the Chinese Ministry of Sciences and Technology.

The establishment of SKL in Delft was also made possible through financial support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and active mediation on the part of the Beijing embassy’s innovation council.