Collaborating for innovation: How university partnerships illuminate the future at ams OSRAM
At ams OSRAM, a global leader in opto- and microelectronics, university-industry partnerships play a pivotal role in driving sustainable growth and shaping the future of technological advancement. In this article, I’d like to delve into a long-standing collaboration with the University of Innsbruck, shedding light on how fundamental research transforms into tangible solutions that benefit society.
Harnessing the power of light: The role of academic partnerships
With over a century of industry expertise, ams OSRAM stands at the forefront of pioneering light and sensor solutions. Our journey combines engineering excellence, global manufacturing capabilities, and an unwavering commitment to innovation. In line with our slogan “Sense the power of light”, our success is based on our deep understanding of the potential of light. We harness its full spectrum – visible and invisible – to illuminate our surroundings as well as gather information from them.
The collaboration with the University of Innsbruck highlights the role academic partnerships play in the creation of breakthrough innovations that make our world safer, smarter, and more sustainable.
At the heart of this collaboration lies the group lead by Prof. Hubert Huppertz at the Institute of General, Inorganic, and Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Innsbruck. Their focus is the synthesis of novel luminescent compounds with unique optical properties—also known as phosphors. These phosphors find applications in white light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a cornerstone of modern lighting technology. Together with ams OSRAM, Prof. Huppertz and his team are working on improving these phosphors to make white LEDs more efficient. Thus, the fruits of our collaboration contribute to sustainability in almost all modern lighting applications, among them car headlamps, and street and indoor lighting to name a few.
The journey of phosphor research
Here is the catch: LEDs inherently emit light of specific colours, for example blue, green or red, based on the materials they are made of. However, achieving white light from LEDs involves clever colour mixing techniques. An LED only emits white light because a blue light source interacts with red and yellow-green phosphors on top of the light source. The magic occurs when the red and green light of the phosphors mix with the blue light of the light source; then, we achieve a balanced blend that appears as white light to our eyes. Essentially, the combination of these three colours mimics natural sunlight, resulting in the white illumination we commonly associate with LEDs.
What sounds simple at first glance is a complex journey that wouldn’t have been possible without the close collaborative efforts of both the University and ams OSRAM.
The development of the phosphors dates back to research carried out by Prof. Huppertz at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. Those materials are now widely used in warm-white LEDs. Nevertheless, the efficiency of today’s LEDs still suffers from light being emitted in the infrared range, imperceptible to our eyes. Thanks to advanced characterisation methods provided by ams OSRAM and further academic partners, a breakthrough has been achieved. The next generation of phosphors developed in Innsbruck has exceptional luminescence properties. By fine-tuning their properties, these phosphors significantly increased the efficiency of white LEDs, which now emit more light that is visible to the human eye. Imagine the impact on energy-efficient lighting systems worldwide!
A shared vision for brighter, more efficient lighting
Synthesising these phosphors and characterising them for the specific application in LEDs demand expertise, specialised equipment, and infrastructure going hand in hand. To this end, the university’s and our capabilities perfectly complement each other. To stay competitive, customised and highly efficient materials are essential for our product development. Prof. Huppertz’s research provides access to such materials. In turn, his group benefits in gaining first-hand knowledge of how their research aligns with industry needs.
Where curiosity meets industry
What sets this collaboration apart is the intersection of academic curiosity and strategic business interests. Fundamental research in solid-state chemistry merges seamlessly with ams OSRAM’s vision. In the rapidly evolving markets, innovation is key to a competitive advantage on the global level. Due to frequent exchange of results and know-how, Prof. Huppertz’s group has a deep understanding of industry’s needs. In turn, ams OSRAM nurtures the spark of fundamentally new ideas by providing insights into state-of-the-art application of the materials developed. From energy-efficient lighting to sustainable solutions, this partnership bridges the gap between laboratory bench and practice.
This success story is fuelled by various drivers including curiosity, trust and frequent meetings to exchange ideas. Beyond the scientific and technological breakthroughs, our collaboration nurtures talent.
In the past decade, over 10 Master’s and PhD students have benefited from joint training between the University of Innsbruck and ams OSRAM. Their work has led to several joint publications, enriching the scientific community. Currently, we support two PhD students through the OptoSuRe project — an “Important Project of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies”, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Shaping the future through research and innovation
Our collaborations with academic partners are a cornerstone of innovation, driving progress through the fusion of fundamental research and practical application. These partnerships not only accelerate our technological advancements but also foster a culture of continuous learning and mutual growth, ultimately shaping a brighter and more sustainable future. As ams OSRAM continues its journey, the collaborative spirit remains its guiding star.
Ready for more?
This article is part of The Hidden Engine of Innovation: University-Industry Partnerships in Action, UIIN’s new casebook showcasing 15 stories of successful university–industry collaboration from around the world. Packed with insights, strategies and real-world examples, the full book is exclusively available to UIIN members, but you can download the teaser version here and explore how partnerships are driving talent, innovation and impact.
Dr. Anja Schulz (author) is the Project Manager R&D Public Funding at ams OSRAM. Since 2022, she has been contributing her expertise to applications for national and EU funding programs for R&D projects at ams OSRAM.
