It’s reported that India's US$1.5 billion lighting industry is growing 15% a year and bringing in new technologies. At the Light India International Exhibition and Conference early in 2008, the focus was on saving energy in lighting and the spotlight was on LEDs.

The new Advanced Power TOPLED Plus from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is the brightest color LED in its class, providing 15% more light for direct display backlighting than standard Advanced Power TOPLEDs.

It’s reported that more than half of the 4.6 million 2-inch-equivalent sapphire wafers used for LED growth in 2007 were consumed by Taiwanese companies. The market for sapphire materials in electronic applications looks set to reach $400 million by 2012. Sapphire materials serve two main applications in the electronics field: GaN-based LEDs, and RF switch devices for mobile phones.

It’s reported that LEDs 2008 is to be headlined by key industry players include Philips Lumileds Lighting, Cree Inc, Osram Opto Semiconductors, Toyoda Gosei, Nichia, the US EPA and Audi.

It's reported that Dellux Technologies Inc., Canada, an international leader in LED tunnel lighting, has selected Golden DRAGON LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors for the luminaires to be installed in the 「Thüringer Schmücketunnel」 on the A71 in the German state Thüringen. Upon installation of the new LED luminaires, in the fall of 2008, it will be the first tunnel in Germany and the longest in Europe to be illuminated by LED light.

It’s reported that some of the largest lamp bulb manufacturers have become convinced that the LED will soon supplant both incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps for illumination. In fact, the nation’s big three of lighting — General Electric, Osram Sylvania and Royal Philips Electronics — are embracing a new era of more efficient technologies. Encouraged by legislation and the rising cost of energy, as well as concerns about greenhouse gases, consumers are swapping out incandescent bulbs.

It's reported that Osram Opto Semiconductors and Tong Fang Co. Ltd. use Osram Golden Dragon LEDs to illuminate the elegant dragon-shaped water fountains in Beijing's Olympic Park.

Recently, the Sentry Equipment Corp. in Oconomowoc, Wis., was considering how to light its new factory, the company's president, Michael Farrell decided to try LEDs. At last he chose to light the building's exterior and most of its interior with LEDs, a light source that many bulb manufacturers are now convinced will supplant incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs.

It's reported Osram is claiming a record for luminous flux and efficacy from an LED driven at 350 mA. It says that its development engineers have achieved new records for the brightness and efficiency of white LEDs in the laboratory. Under standard conditions with an operating current of 350 mA, brightness peaked at a value of 155 lm, and efficacy at 136 lm/W. White prototype LEDs with 1 mm2 chips were used. The light produced had a color temperature of 5000 K, with color (x,y) coordinates at (0.349, 0.393).

The new OSTAR® Projection SMT LED from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is more compact and efficient than ever before and is designed for integration into ultra-miniature pico projection applications where space is at a premium. This compact LED module measures just 5.8 x 4.7 x 1.5 mm and, in contrast to its predecessor, does not require additional connectors on board for electrical interface. Thanks to SMT (surface mount technology), this new version of the OSTAR® Projection LED is now suitable for standard soldering processes.

All the properties that light sources need for backlighting medium-sized LCDs (5 to 20”)are combined in OSRAM’s new high-power Ceramos Reflector LED in its tiny package.Developed for injecting light into a light guide, it offers high brightness and impressiveefficiency. The LED also withstands temperatures as high as 150°C and is extremelydurable with a life of up to 50,000 hours.

Rabyte and OSRAM Opto Semiconductors (Malaysia) Sdn.  Bhd. announced a partnership agreement for India effective 1st, Jan 2008.  This agreement involves the promotion of the complete product range of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors.As the world's second largest manufacturer of optoelectronic semiconductors for the illumination, sensing and visualization sectors, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors combines extensive know-how in semiconductors, converter materials and packages under one roof.

Osram will be giving its LED for use in headlights of a new class of automobiles, the sport utility vehicle or SUV.Osram announced that the Cadillac Escalade Platinum will be the first SUV to feature LED headlights as standard. Osram says its LEDs drive the headlights supplied by Hella. The full function headlights offer low beam, high-beam, daytime running light, position lights and side marker lights. The luxurious automobile will be launched in 2008.