LG Group said yesterday it has selected solar cells, lighting, next-generation batteries, as well as integrated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as the four major areas it will target with R&D investments.
LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo and 200 CEOs and CTOs of the group`s affiliates gathered in LG Chem`s research and development center in Daejeon yesterday to discuss LG`s 2010 R&D strategies.
To boost their solar cell business, LG Chem will initially develop raw materials like polysilicon to produce solar cells, while LG Electronics will focus on improving efficiency and reducing output flaws in solar cell production, LG Group said.
LG Electronics and LG Display will put extra effort to develop thin film-type solar cells, which are more efficient than the existing crystal-formed solar cells, it said.
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For the next-generation lighting business, LG Electronics will draw up strategies to diversify LG`s LED products while LG Innotek, an electronic parts affiliate of LG Electronics, will develop parts LED chips, company officials said.
As OLEDs are emerging as advanced lighting products, LG Chem will develop raw materials for OLED products, LG Group said.
The third area for LG`s technology development is integrated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, also known as Total HVC, for sky scrapers.
LG Electronics aims to become one of the top global players in the HVC area by 2012 by developing new technologies to boost the efficiency of air conditioners and to use renewable energy for building maintenance, LG Group said.
For next-generation batteries, LG Chem will develop new electrode materials for batteries for mobile phones and laptops. The company will also put more R&D into prolonging the lifespan of batteries for electric cars.
Meanwhile, the group gave a total of 1.7 billion won in prize money to 30 LG Electronics and LG Display R&D teams for developing technologies for mobile phones and TV sets.
(yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)

By Kim Yoon-mi