日本新力和松下退出開發有機EL顯示器

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

ソニーとパナ、有機ＥＬ事業売却へ　コスト減難航

2014年5月25日07時00分

　次世代テレビの「本命」として有機ＥＬディスプレーの開発をしていたソニーとパナソニックが、ともに有機ＥＬ事業から撤退する方針を固めた。大型化に伴う製造コストの引き下げなどが難航したためだ。有機ＥＬの大型テレビ開発から日本勢が事実上、姿を消す。韓国メーカーが開発してはいるが、割高で市場は伸びていない。

　ソニー、パナソニックとも、官民ファンド「産業革新機構」が出資するジャパンディスプレイ（ＪＤＩ）にそれぞれの有機ＥＬ事業を売却する方向で調整している。ともに６月中にも基本合意する見通しだ。ＪＤＩはタブレットやスマートフォンなどに使う中小型画面に絞って開発を進める。

　両社とも、不振のテレビ事業を立て直すには、課題の多い有機ＥＬに投資を続けるよりも、高精細の「４Ｋテレビ」など液晶テレビの開発に集中する方がよいとの結論に達した。

(試譯文)

   Sony and Panasonic which were developing the organic EL display as a "favorite" for the next generation television were making a policy to withdraw from the organic EL enterprise. It was because the attempt to reduce manufacturing cost through increasing size etc. had run into difficulties. As a matter of fact the Japanese team had disappeared from the development of organic EL large-size televisions. Although the South Korean maker was developing them, because of the high sales price, the market could not be expanded.

   Aiming at the "Industrial Innovation Organization" which was a public-private sector joint fund, Sony and Panasonic were heading towards selling off their organic EL enterprise and were adjusting to the Japan display (JDI). It was expected that both companies would reach a basic agreement by the end of June. As for the JDI, the development in the smaller type screen used in the tablet and smart phone etc. would be squeezed to continue. 

   In order for both companies to re-organize their sluggish television enterprise, a conclusion was reached that it was better to concentrate on the development of liquid crystal televisions, such as the high definition "4K Television" etc., rather than to continue with the investment in organic EL which had many challenges.

It must be a difficult business decision for both Sony and Panasonic.