Displays that are sustainable, long-lasting, and easy on the eyes? Technology that can transform the color of cars? Taiwanese tech giant E Ink has achieved remarkable success with these cutting-edge innovations. The company now controls 95% of the global market. “E Ink’s decision to establish its European headquarters in Brabant will significantly boost our High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) ecosystem”, Maarten Brouwer, Teamlead Foreign Investments at BOM, said.
E Ink, a company listed in Taipei and founded in 1997, is the creator, pioneer, and market leader in ePaper technology. With over 3000 employees worldwide, E Ink starts with a small team at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven but plans for rapid expansion. E Ink’s technology can be used in any device requiring an easily readable screen, consumes little power, and can be used for extended periods without recharging. Over the years, E Ink has collaborated with large and small electronics companies and secured numerous patents. Think of partnerships with Philips Professional Displays (PPDS) for digital signage and color-changing cars for BMW. In its home country of Taiwan, E Ink ranks in the top ten of “Top Performing Tech Companies.”
Maarten Brouwer: “In the ePaper technology and displays field, E Ink is a significant innovator, often setting industry standards. What’s interesting about this company is almost everyone is already using E Ink technology, both professionally and personally. However, most people are unaware that the technology originates from E Ink. And e-readers are a prime example. E Ink displays offer a reading experience comparable to reading on paper; they are gentler on the eyes than a regular tablet’s LCD screen and have a longer battery life. The technology is also already used in smart price tags in supermarkets and digital signage at stations and airports. We see plenty of opportunities for applying the technology in markets where Brabant leads, such as logistics, industry, and medical equipment. The possibilities are numerous.”
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How the technology works
E Ink’s technology utilizes microscopic particles called microcapsules, which contain ink and are placed on a substrate to form an image. E Ink displays offer several advantages over traditional LCD screens, such as higher readability in direct sunlight, lower power consumption, and reduced eye strain.
The initial contacts between E Ink and Brabant date back to 2013. Over the past ten years, E Ink has visited our country multiple times to investigate the business climate in various regions. Under the guidance of BOM and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), E Ink sampled the possibilities offered by Brabant’s ecosystems, assessed the customer potential, and already acquainted themselves with various fellow entrepreneurs and knowledge partners. Tours of the various campuses followed, meetings with fellow innovators and knowledge partners were part of the ‘soft landing’.
High Tech Campus
E Ink recently settled in building HTC 69 on the High Tech Campus. The Eindhoven branch is the company’s first location and serves as its headquarters in Europe, following several locations in Asia and the United States. In the coming period, the team at the Dutch E Ink location will primarily focus on sales, marketing and business development in the European market.
Hui Lee, President of E Ink Netherlands: “Our landing in Brabant was smooth, thanks to the relationships we built with – among others – the people from BOM and the High Tech Campus.” Otto van den Boogaard, CEO of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven, is delighted to welcome E Ink to the High Tech Campus. “The arrival of E Ink seamlessly aligns with our mission to unite innovators and creators of sustainable technologies on the Campus. Moreover, there is already a wealth of knowledge here in areas such as flexible electronics and screens, wireless autonomous technologies, and devices with very low energy consumption, with institutions like Holst Centre. E Ink enriches the existing Campus ecosystem with its innovative technology.”