Hot topics of the week: MicroLED applications are accelerating, and optical communications continue to make breakthroughs

This week, the LED industry chain continues to be active in multiple dimensions such as capital operation, technological innovation and application implementation, with particularly intensive progress related to Mini/Micro LED and optical communications. On the one hand, many companies are accelerating industrial layout through financing, private placement and mergers and acquisitions, promoting the coordinated development of display and upstream materials; on the other hand, the application of Micro LED in automotive, AR/MR and smart display and other scenarios continues to expand. At the same time, the technical path of combining optical communications and Micro LED is further deepened, and the industry is accelerating its evolution towards high added value and cross-domain integration.

[Hot News]

Nationstar Optoelectronics’ application for fixed placement was approved by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange

On April 8, Nationstar Optoelectronics’ application for fixed placement was approved by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. It plans to raise approximately 970 million yuan to invest in Mini/Micro LED and automotive projects, which is yet to be registered with the Securities Regulatory Commission. On the same day, the company completed the transfer of 49% of Gaozhou Nationstar's equity and maintained its controlling shareholding, aiming to optimize capital structure and financial efficiency while promoting the development of display and module business.

Jinko Electronics invests in third-generation semiconductors to deepen "LED+" ecological synergy

On February 24, Jinko Electronics announced that it would invest 268 million yuan to participate in the establishment of Guangzhou Tianze Jingxin Fund. On April 8, the company further disclosed that it would invest indirectly in Core Energy through equity transfer and capital increase. After the transaction is completed, Jinko Electronics will hold approximately 40.12% of the fund's equity and indirectly hold approximately 3.84% of the economic equity of Guangdong Xinjuneng Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

Safulus completed 300 million yuan in Series C financing

Recently, Safulus completed 300 million yuan in Series C financing. This round of funds will be mainly used to accelerate the mass production and delivery of full-color Micro LED microdisplays for AR. Investors include Xi'an West Hi-tech Investment Fund, Wuxi Liangxi Science and Technology Innovation Industry Investment Fund, Anhui Jin'an Industrial Guidance Fund, Shanghai Jiliuloshan Haisongjin Venture Capital Fund, etc.

Inventronics jointly develops planting containers and lays out the vertical agricultural lighting market

On April 1, Encapsulite Electronics teamed up with Greatit and Encapsulite to develop a planting container using aerosol cultivation and LED lighting solutions, which has been launched in Italy. The system improves planting efficiency by optimizing light and energy consumption, and promotes the application of vertical agriculture. As the plant lighting market picks up, the company is also investing in related areas to accelerate the improvement of smart agricultural lighting solutions.

[Optical Communications]

Sanan Optoelectronics has made three progresses in its optical communications business

On April 7, Sanan Optoelectronics disclosed three developments in its optical communications business: the launch of 100G EML chips to enter 800G optical module applications; the CW light source passed overseas customer certification, covering 400G to 1.6T needs; and the addition of in-vehicle optical communications to promote the industrialization of VCSEL and PD products. At the same time, the company has achieved a breakthrough in Micro LED optical interconnection. The device bandwidth exceeds 7GHz and supports 10Gb/s transmission, providing a new path for short-distance high-speed communication.

CEA-Leti will jointly develop high-bandwidth Micro LED optical communication technology

On April 3, CEA-Leti and CEA-List reached a cooperation with LMC, combining RISC-V architecture design, silicon photonics and Micro LED technology, introducing its 3D stacking and interposer platform to develop high-bandwidth optical communication solutions. This solution improves data transmission efficiency through short-distance optical links, breaks through power consumption and interconnection bottlenecks, and creates a high-performance, low-power customized computing and communication platform for AI applications.

Minbang Optoelectronics: Plans to acquire 51% equity of Xiazhi Precision

On April 8, Minbang Optoelectronics announced that it plans to acquire 51% of the equity of Xiazhi Precision for 245 million yuan in cash, and plans to further acquire the remaining 49%. The latter is mainly engaged in PCB micro drills, and its products are used in high-end fields such as AI servers and optical communications. Through this merger and acquisition, Minbang Optoelectronics has extended its lighting business to key PCB consumables, indirectly entering the optical communications industry chain and expanding new growth space.

【Product Technology Progress】

AUO, Innolux and Ficai Micro LED products unveiled at Touch Taiwan 2026

At this Touch Taiwan 2026, AUO, Innolux, and Fucai will display display products for Micro LED, Mini LED, and automotive/AR applications. Among them, AUO brings products such as transparent Micro LED displays, large-size immersive display screens, retail and interactive display solutions (such as display cabinets, ordering screens, AR event screens), and double-sided displays for transportation.

Innolux brings Micro LED modular display solutions, Mini LED display products, smart cockpit systems (including PHUD, car audio and rear large screens), as well as interactive applications such as smart mirrors.

Fucai brings silicon-based Micro LED technology (for AR/MR display), red Micro LED technology, automotive transparent display and ground projection, as well as automotive Mini LED display and high color gamut backlight solutions.

Sony releases Mini LED TV backlight technology brand “True RGB”

On April 8, Sony officially announced its next-generation Mini LED TV technology brand "True RGB" through its official X account. This technology uses an independent red, green, and blue (RGB) LED backlight system to directly emit light through the three primary colors, achieving purer color performance, higher brightness output, and the largest color volume performance in the history of Sony home TVs.

Thunderbird Micro LED AR glasses are connected to JD’s smart device JoyGlance

On April 1, JD Technology and Thunderbird Innovation cooperated to integrate the shopping smart JoyGlance into the X3 Pro AR glasses, enabling full-process AR shopping from product discovery to payment. It is reported that the X3 Pro adopts the technical path of binocular full-color Micro LED combined with nano-photolithography optical waveguide in the display and optical solution.

【Latest performance】

This week, a number of LED companies have successively released their 2025 annual reports and performance forecasts for the first quarter of 2026. Among them, Dongshan Precision is expected to achieve growth in its first quarter performance, while the 2025 performance of Moso Power, Yuanfang Information, and Changfang Group have all declined to varying degrees due to factors such as market environment and product structure.