Blue LED inventors, Cree colleague awarded Nobel Prize for physics

Representing a remarkable milestone for lighting, LED technology and for Cree, three scientists—Isamu Akasaki of Meijo University, Hiroshi Amano of Nagoya University in Japan and Cree colleague Shuji Nakamura, professor of materials and of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara—were awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in physics for helping create the blue LED, the transformational technology that has unlocked new possibilities for beautiful, energy-saving light in our homes, businesses and cities.

In this combination of photos shows three winners of Nobel Prize in physics, from left, Meijo University Prof. Isamu Akasaki, 85, Nagoya University Prof. Hiroshi Amano, 54, Meijo and Shuji Nakamura, 60, of the University of California at Santa Barbara, U.S.A. The three Japanese scientists won Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes a new energy efficient and environment-friendly light source. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT

“These three Nobel Laureates recognized evolution while it was happening and dared to explore a brighter, more efficient world, carving a pathway for companies like Cree to bring their advances to the masses,” said Rob Glass, Cree chief technology officer. “We commend and celebrate the brilliance of the three scientists who didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and those who continue to defy standards for uncompromising innovation.”

Innovation is at the heart of everything Cree does; it’s what drove Cree to commercialize the blue LED in 1989, transforming how people experience light today and what’s possible for the future. At the time of Cree’s founding, red and green LEDs already existed, but the company’s co-founders knew that if they could introduce a blue LED that was cost-effective and could be mass-produced, they could make white light and open the door for broader applications like full-color video displays and eventually general lighting.

As the world’s vertically-integrated LED lighting innovator, Cree continues to lead with innovation across its LED product lines and drive closer to cost parity with conventional technology by delivering next generation products that are 30 percent to 40 percent lower cost than the previous generation. Over the last year, the company continued to set new benchmarks for performance such as the first 200 lumen-per-Watt LED lighting system and the first 300 lumen per watt LED component. In just one year, the Cree LED Bulb became the best-selling LED bulb in America, establishing the Cree brand as the leader in consumer LED lighting. Cree continues to build the value of our commercial brand and drive LED adoption with the release of breakthrough lighting solutions like SmartCast™ Technology and the T8 LED replacement tube. Beyond the technology, it’s Cree’s entrepreneurial spirit, ingenuity and aspiration to find a better way that invigorates the company to continue challenging convention, transforming industries and forging paths to a more bright and possible future.

To learn more about Cree and how the company is continuing to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting, visit www.cree.com.