National Semiconductor and SunEdison, a solar energy services provider, have begun field trials to optimise the energy output of solar arrays.

IMEC has launched an industrial affiliation program to focus on the development of GaN technology for both power conversion and solid-state lighting applications.

An online technology resource and community for electronic design engineers has been launched at www.element-14.com.

Demand for tantalum, of which some 75% goes into electronics and aerospace, is, this year, likely to be 40% lower than 2008, according to a report from Roskill Information Services in London.

Digi-Key Corporation has signed an agreement with Fujitsu Microelectronics of America, for the worldwide distribution of FMA's low-power, low-pin-count, 8-bit microcontrollers and digital touch-screen sensor ICs.

Double-frame rate (100 and 120 Hz) and quadruple-frame rate (200 and 240 Hz) LCD TV panels have quickly become integral to LCD TV panel makers' product roadmaps and shipment plans.

A high-speed, low-cost chip that facilitates short-range, multi-gigabit transfer of data has won Innovic’s International Next Big Thing Award - Innovation Excellence category.

Production of large-area TFT LCD panels reached 46.7 million units, up 8% per month and 24% per year, according to the DisplaySearch Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database.

RF Engines has been contracted by Eonic of Delft in the Netherlands to develop a digital downconverter to be used in signal processing platforms.

NEC Electronics, Renesas Technology, NEC Corporation, Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric have agreed to integrate business operations at NEC Electronics and Renesas. The business integration is expected to come into operation in April 2010.

3M’s Optical Systems division has received the Alliance to Save Energy’s Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency award for its Vikuiti dual brightness enhancement films for LCD TVs and monitors.

A team of Australian and US researchers has set a record for solar-cell efficiency.

Microchip has opened registration for its Embedded Designer's Forum, a worldwide series of technical events focused on technologies that will help designers stay ahead.

IMEC has unveiled a large-area solar system with a conversion efficiency of 18.4%.

Tekkeon is partnering with Brisbane-based distributor, NetOpt, to market and distribute portable power systems across Australia.