3M and BOE today announced the opening of the 3M and BOE Joint Laboratory at the BOE Technology Innovation Center, expanding a more than 20-year collaboration to advance the future of display technology. The joint research and development platform brings together BOE’s display innovation and end-use application expertise with 3M’s materials science capabilities to accelerate higher-performance solutions across LCD, OLED and MLED applications, including improvements in light efficiency, foldable displays and ultra-narrow bezel processes.
The companies also introduced the Joint Initiative for Ecosystem Synergy, which promotes collaborative innovation, joint technical breakthroughs, shared standards and low-carbon, sustainable development across the display value chain. The initiative reflects the shared goal of 3M and BOE to reshape industrial collaboration while translating materials and display innovation into user experiences consumers can see and feel.
“We have always believed that leading technologies and exceptional user experiences are rooted in solid technical research and early-stage collaboration,” said Liu Zhiqiang, BOE senior vice president and chief technology officer. “The joint laboratory will integrate R&D resources, testing equipment and technical teams to help move innovations from the lab to mass-produced products. Together, we will create the next generation of top-tier displays for users worldwide.”
“Over the years, the two companies have achieved multiple mass-production outcomes in LCD, OLED and Mini LED display technologies,” said Bei Zhong, senior vice president of 3M China’s Transportation and Electronics Business Group. “Through the joint laboratory, we will further combine our technology, talent and resources to accelerate commercialization, expand cooperation into new technology areas and deliver better end-product experiences to consumers worldwide.”
Establishing a joint R&D laboratory to build a collaborative model for display innovation
The 3M and BOE Joint Laboratory will serve as an exclusive R&D center focused on display materials, including optical films, optically clear adhesives, structural adhesives and emerging innovations. Key research areas include improving optical efficiency in new film materials, advancing foldable technologies, enabling ultra-narrow bezel processes and supporting innovation across LCD, OLED and MLED technologies. The lab combines simulation, optical testing and mechanical reliability testing resources from both companies to support faster development and validation of new display solutions.
Unlike a traditional supplier-customer model, the laboratory embeds materials R&D earlier in the panel design process. BOE’s display innovation capabilities and application expertise complement 3M’s century-long materials technology foundation, broad patent portfolio and 49 technology platforms, creating a difficult-to-replicate collaborative advantage built on two decades of cooperation.
Recent collaboration has supported mass-production advances in flexible foldable displays and Mini LED technology. 3M optical adhesives and customized bonding solutions have helped improve the reliability, design and user experience of BOE’s “zero-crease” foldable displays, while 3M microreplication and light management technologies have helped enhance image uniformity and anti-glare performance in BOE’s α-MLED system.
Showcasing innovative achievements and building industry consensus through a joint initiative
As part of the laboratory launch, the two companies showcased four exhibition zones with 15 jointly developed technology exhibits, including six notable jointly developed products across consumer electronics and automotive display applications. Highlights included an ultra-low-power laptop display using BOE’s ADS Pro display technology and 3M’s ultra-high-brightness optical film solution, as well as automotive display solutions such as under-display infrared camera integration for full-screen cockpit displays with driver monitoring capabilities.
Other exhibits included BOE’s first mirror-like “crease-free” OLED flexible display, supported by 3M foldable optical adhesive technology, and the world’s first 3D-printed ultra-narrow bezel product jointly developed by 3M and BOE, which entered mass production in 2026. The event also included a roundtable with representatives from 3M, BOE, device brands and academia on strengthening collaboration across materials, panels and end products to improve user experiences and support industry growth.
Building on their long-standing collaboration in display technologies, 3M and BOE will also explore adjacent areas where advanced materials innovation can support future electronics needs, including perovskite photovoltaics, glass-based packaging substrates and optical interconnects.
FAQ
What is the 3M and BOE Joint Laboratory?
The 3M and BOE Joint Laboratory is a joint research and development platform at the BOE Technology Innovation Center. It brings together 3M’s materials science capabilities and BOE’s display technology expertise to support innovation across LCD, OLED and MLED display applications.
What technologies will the joint laboratory focus on?
The lab will focus on display materials and technologies, including optical films, optically clear adhesives, structural adhesives, foldable display solutions, ultra-narrow bezel processes and light efficiency improvements. These areas are intended to support higher-performance display solutions for consumer electronics, automotive displays and other applications.
Why are 3M and BOE expanding their collaboration?
3M and BOE have worked together for more than 20 years. The joint laboratory is designed to bring materials science and display design closer together earlier in the innovation process, helping accelerate technical development, commercialization and improved end-user display experiences.
