China-based display producer China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT, owned by TCL) announced a joint-venture with Xiamen Sanan Integrated Circuit (Sanan-IC, owned by San'an Optoelectronics) to develop micro LED materials and production processes and equipment.
The two companies will invest a total of 300 million Yuan (around $43 million USD) in the new venture, with CSoT holding 55%.
Last year CSoT demonstrated a 3.3" transparent microLED display, developed in collaboration with PlayNitride.
In April 2019 Sanan announced that it has signed a contract with the Gedian Economic and Technological Development Zone in China's Hubei Province to setup a $1.78 billion Mini-LED and Micro-LED production site.
In September 2018 it was reported that Sanan Optoelectronics started to build its first micro-LED epitaxial wafer and chip production line and in early 2019 it was reported that Sanan plans to start sampling Micro LED chips as early as January 2019. In April 2019 it San'an announced plans to setup a 12 billion Yuan ($1.78 billion USD) Mini-LED and Micro-LED production site in Hebei.
In February 2018 it was reported that San'an and Samsung signed a long-term agreement to co-develop Micro-LED displays. Under the agreement, Samsung pre-paid Sanan $16.83 million to secure LED chips - which in actually are more likely to be mini LED chips.