Merck Increases Stake in Qlight Nanotech

Merck announced that it has increased its stake in the Jerusalem-based company Qlight Nanotech, which develops products for advanced displays and energy-efficient lighting. The Israeli start-up was formed as a spin-off of Yissum, the technology transfer company of Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Merck already invested in Qlight Nanotech in 2012. This equity stake has now been raised. Further financial details are not being disclosed.

Merck’s continuous investment will allow Qlight Nanotech to increase its efforts in the development of its semiconductor nanoparticle-based technology and to address a broader customer base. Within the scope of a joint research program, Merck has been cooperating with Qlight Nanotech since its foundation. The program was continuously supported by the Israeli Ministry of Industry as part of its Multinational Company Cooperation Program.

“This second investment of Merck will allow Qlight Nanotech to increase its capacities and accelerate the development of its exciting technology,” said Bjorn Hofman, senior vice president of advanced technologies within the Merck Performance Materials division. “Deepening our collaboration with Qlight Nanotech signifies our confidence in the potential of the new technology, especially for the next generation of display screens.”

“We are proud of the continuous investment by Merck, a global leader in liquid crystal technologies, and welcome the deepening of cooperation between us, following the achievement of certain technology milestones,” Yaacov Michlin, CEO of Yissum and chairman of the board of Qlight Nanotech said. “In collaboration with Merck, we are addressing leading customers in the flat panel display field. This will lead to products with significant energy savings and color range improvements in both lighting and flat panel displays.”


“This is a significant step in the commercialization of our nanocrystal-based technology,” Professor Uri Banin, the scientific founder of Qlight Nanotech, added. “Materials and phenomena that we studied in the laboratory and invented only yesterday are now leading to a variety of exciting new applications in flat panel displays and lighting. Qlight Nanotech uses an array of advanced capabilities in nanotechnology we established at Hebrew University and this is an important factor in making this achievement. I take particular satisfaction in seeing the researchers who have learned and grown with us as students, now driving the development at Qlight Nanotech.”


On Oct. 1, 2013, Qlight Nanotech opened its new labs at the Edmond J. Safra Givat Ram Campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The company unveiled its innovative film technology demonstrating the application potential for flat panel displays. An optical film containing its nanoparticles uniquely improves the energy efficiency of the LC displays. This can extend the life of the batteries of mobile devices, and reduce by almost half the energy consumption of TV sets. Qlight Nanotech’s film also increases the color gamut of the display and thus significantly improves the user’s viewing experience.