Sources at flat panel display solutions provider Applied Materials have denied rumors that the company will set up a research center in Taiwan specifically aimed at developing AMOLED technology.
Recently, rumors in the panel industry have been pointing towards such developments, claiming the move is in order to help Taiwan-based panel makers bump up their competitiveness in the global panel market.
But the sources said that at present the company has no such plans. If Applied Materials were to build an AMOLED research center in Taiwan, it would have to receive approval from company headquarters and invest about NT$5 billion (US$172.1 million), both of which are highly unlikely to occur, added the sources.
The sources did say, however, that Applied Materials has a manufacturing center in Taiwan that will continue providing solutions largely for Taiwan-based customers.
Article translated by Alex Wolfgram
