A new generation of LED luminaries for Human Centric Lighting Applications

Project Information

WEL-LED-BEING

Grant agreement ID: 854468

DOI

10.3030/854468

Project closed

EC signature date 28 January 2019

Start date 1 February 2019

End date 31 May 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

LUMITECH PRODUKTION UND ENTWICKLUNG GMBH
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WEL-LED-BEING (A new generation of LED luminaries for Human Centric Lighting Applications)

Reporting period: 2019-02-01 to 2019-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Natural light is essential for humans and fundamental for life; however nowadays we expend 90% of the time indoors. The lighting of these spaces is therefore of paramount importance as light not only determines our vision but also impacts our behaviour, health and overall wellbeing.
Human Centric Lighting (HCL) is defined as lighting devoted to enhancing human performance, comfort, health, and well-being, separately or in some combination. The benefits of HCL for humans is its major drive. HCL is expected to transform the lighting industry the way we know it today. HCL is a combination of visual, biological, and emotional benefits that supports health, wellbeing, and performance of humans.
Our objective is to create a system that mimics natural daylight. Lack of natural light is causing a tremendous impact on humans’ health and it is associated with: depression; anxiety; stress; lack of concentration; reduces learning, creativity, memory, or innovation capacities; sleep disturbance; or social jetlag.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Our technical team analyzed the technical feasibility of Lumitech HCL solution. That includes all components in the HCL system, we described the state of development and actions to bring TRL to commercialization readiness. We search for partnership opportunities including technical, commercial and pilot test candidates. We have included a first draft of our Work Plan and identify risk to develop our contingency plan.
Our due diligence included a market research of existing HCL solutions, the state of the art, and detailed freedom-to-operate analysis (FTO) and analyzed the role that patents play in the lighting industry, we concluded with a SWOT analysis. The financial feasibility included financial projections, price strategy, value chain analysis, and commercialization strategy. The project proved profitable and we decided to apply for SME instrument phase 2.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The development of a lighting solution that mimics natural light is particularly complex. Natural light is dynamic changing from sunshine until sunset (intensity, color, direction). Light is the most important timer for our internal clock. It has an impact in our vision, body, and emotions.
HCL system requires Led modules capable to mimic the color, intensity and dynamics of natural light; it requires to communicate and share data among different led modules through a communication protocol; it requires a light management system; and it requires to automate processes, program task, and analyze data. Besides all these components have to be integrated in a wide portfolio of luminaries to cover every application.
Actual HCL solutions has limited performance and applications, most of them are not truly HCL solutions but instead use the hype around HCL as part of their marketing. WEL-LED-BEING is an innovative family of luminaries with outstanding spectral tuning features. Our patented PI-LED® technology is the basis of such exceptional flexibility able to cover the full spectra of colour temperatures outperforming current solutions in the market mostly based in tuneable white light.

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