Mission sheds light on LED developments (Jun 06)
High brightness and multi-watt LEDs are creating exciting new opportunities for general illumination and novel lighting applications, as a UK DTI Global Watch Mission to Japan discovered.

In 1998, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan commissioned the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to develop low-energy white LED lighting systems. The Light for the 21st Century project ended in March 2003.
* See Japanese collaboration seeks efficient white LED lighting

Japan's solid-state lighting project has now entered its second phase.
* See Japanese project enters second phase

Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Innovation Centre (YuMIC) is a government-supported project to develop medical equipment and therapeutic techniques based on LEDs.
* See Japanese LED project targets medical applications

A group of LED manufacturers are working with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to draw up a common set of standards for LED-based lighting equipment.
* See Japanese firms to set standards for LED lighting (January 2004)