Cambridge Display Technology

The Company

CDT Ltd. is a Sumitomo Chemical Group Company and, as one of Sumitomo Chemical’s corporate research laboratories, is responsible for research and innovation in the UK and Europe.

cdt logo

CDT’s technologies have been developed in the field of Printed Electronics including technology of polymer light emitting diodes (P-OLEDs), printed sensors and printed energy harvesting and storage devices. CDT is also supporting Sumitomo’s future goals by developing the next generation of innovative new technologies to enhance existing business or create new opportunities for Sumitomo. This includes fundamental research in areas such as biosensors, active release technologies and the identification and incubation of new market-needs driven technologies to support the next generation of products for Sumitomo Chemical’s business sectors (Health & Crop Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Petrochemicals and Plastics, IT-related Chemicals and Energy & Functional Materials).

CDT’s 100-strong interdisciplinary team has world-class expertise in physics, chemistry, engineering, microelectronics, materials and life sciences. CDT has state of the art research and technology development facilities in Godmanchester, near Cambridge. CDT’s facilities include synthetic chemistry laboratories, formulation and printing laboratories, chemical and physical materials analysis, electrical and optical device fabrication and measurement, fast laser spectroscopy, and clean room facilities.

The company is based in Godmanchester.

The Opportunity

Project Outline

CDT has two internship positions available, one each to join the Corporate Venturing and Innovation (CVI) and Proof of Concept (PoC) teams respectively. The teams’ remits are to scout for start-ups and technologies that might have synergies with Sumitomo Chemical’s businesses and research interests as well as validating the initial business and technological concept behind technologies identified both internally and externally. 

The four general themes of interest to Sumitomo Chemical are: Environment & Energy, Materials for ICT, Healthcare and Food. Although CDTs background is primarily in the ICT space, emerging technologies for sustainability such as CCU/CCS and the circular economy are also of particular interest.

The roles involve assisting the current teams with analysing the potential opportunity of new technologies to CDT, these may originate from CDTs internal innovation processes or externally via technology scouting. The remit is to understand the merits of the technological concept, scale of the business opportunity and the competitive landscape. As part of this you will be involved in developing innovative research proposals and Proof-of-Concept (PoC) projects to validate the idea or potential business opportunity.

The PoC could potentially later evolve into co-development of a product and/or include a financial investment by Sumitomo Chemical. 

The CVI and PoC teams each consist of 4 scientists, with additional support from the PoC Business Team, the Chief Technology Officer and the Managing Director.

Please note that this is a desk-based position, though opportunities to tour CDT’s labs and interact with people involved in other roles will be offered (social isolation restrictions permitting).

Requirements

Skills required

This project would be appropriate to someone who:

  • studies towards a Science or Engineering degree;
  • is interested in learning about new technologies;
  • is interested in a career in research; and
  • preferably contemplates progressing to a PhD degree.