December 9, 2002 - Mountain View, CA - Solid-state lighting has emerged as one of the most exciting new growth areas in the compound semiconductor industry, according to market researchers at Silicon Valley-based Strategies Unlimited. Solid-state lighting refers to the use of high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB LEDs) as light sources to replace conventional incandescent and fluorescent lamp technologies. The market for HB LEDs used in lighting is projected to grow from $85 million in 2 002 to over $500 million in 2007, according to Strategies Unlimited's new report Solid-State Lighting: A New Growth Opportunity for High-Brightness LEDs.

The market for HB LEDs has grown nearly 50% per year since 1995, reaching $1.2 billion in 2001, and revitalizing the 30-year-old LED business. Typical applications have included traffic signals, large outdoor single-color and full-color signs, automotive exterior and interior lighting, and LCD display backlighting. As a result of technical progress in compound semiconductor materials such as InGaAlP and InGaN, which has led to increased efficiency, and lower cost, LEDs have also begun to add ress a number of lighting applications such as architectural lighting; machine vision; illumination for signage; decorative, accent and marker lights; and flashlights. These applications form the foundation for lighting market growth addressed in the report.

The majority of solid-state lighting applications to date have involved colored light. However, white light illumination is the Holy Grail of the LED industry. White LEDs, introduced in the late 1990s, have made tremendous progress in efficiency and lumen output, with efficiencies now exceeding those of incandescent lamps. As a result, white LEDs are now poised to enter the $12 billion market for general illumination.

Because solid-state lighting offers potential for significant energy savings, various national governments have targeted LED technology for accelerated research and development funding. A national solid-state lighting effort is now underway in Japan, and proposals for a US program have received broad-based support in Congress.

Solid-State Lighting: A New Growth Opportunity for High-Brightness LEDs addresses the technologies, government programs, market opportunities, and applications for solid-state lighting, including detailed forecasts for eight separate solid-state lighting applications. Further information about the report is available on the Strategies Unlimited website at http://www.strategies-u.com, or by contacting Tim Carli at +1 (650) 941-3438, ext. 23.

Founded in 1979, Strategies Unlimited specializes in market research and strategic consulting directed at optoelectronic, optical networking, photovoltaic components and systems, and RF/wireless semiconductor industries. The company, based in Mountain View, California, is a research unit of PennWell Corporation, a global media and information company serving the energy and advanced technology markets since 1910.

PennWell Corporation, established in 1910, is a highly diversified media and information company providing authoritative publications, conferences and exhibitions, databases, information products and Internet-based services to strategic markets worldwide. The company publishes over 45 periodicals including Laser Focus World, Lightwave, and Solid State Technology. These strategic markets include petroleum, electric power, electronics, communications, information-technology, water, fire servic es,manufacturing and healthcare. Its headquarters are in Nashua, NH, and Tulsa, OK, with remote offices and partners located around the globe.