IEl Science Aiming for Overseas Expansion with 'Silicon Lens' Technology

Utilizing Silicone Lenses... Applied to Various Products
Self-Developed Scalp Care Devices and LED Security Lights
Expanding Sales Channels through SME Priority Purchase System
Selected for KOTRA Business Awards... Pioneering Overseas Markets

Song Seong-geun, CEO of IL Science

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] IL Science is set to actively enter overseas markets with its proprietary silicon lens manufacturing technology. Silicon lenses have a high light transmittance of over 99%, are heat-resistant, and durable, making them highly versatile for use in semiconductor equipment to medical devices. However, what existing companies hesitated to attempt was the complex process technology that resulted in low productivity. Defects frequently occurred during the process of solidifying the liquid silicon material. After six years of research and development (R&D), IL Science developed a dispensing method that extrudes silicon material with a syringe to create the desired shape.

Song Seong-geun, CEO of IL Science (pictured), stated, "We have advanced our production equipment from the first to the fourth unit, reducing the defect rate to below 1% and establishing a system capable of mass production of various products." He added, "If we consider silicon lenses as a ‘tree,’ we are now actively promoting their application across diverse industries like branches spreading out, bearing fruit."

Various Types of Silicone Lenses

◆ Founded during university years... Expanding eco-friendly energy business= CEO Song, who majored in electronic engineering, founded the company in 2008 while still a university student. Becoming an entrepreneur was a long-held dream he even wrote about in his elementary school diary. He discovered a concrete business idea after completing his military service. At that time, global warming was a major issue. He planned a business focused on protecting the environment and reducing energy consumption. Starting with solar-powered lighting fixtures, he expanded the product lineup to include LED lighting, silicon lenses, and Internet of Things (IoT) smart devices. As the business grew, the company name was changed from ‘Solar Science’ to the current ‘IL Science’ in 2016.

Earlier this year, IL Science also entered the healthcare market with ‘Polynic,’ a helmet-type scalp care device. Polynic is a home care device for the scalp that applies the dual effects of microcurrent technology and LED. Microcurrent is known to promote blood circulation in the scalp and accelerate hair growth. Polynic also incorporates silicon lenses for LEDs to enhance efficiency. It weighs about 400g, is wireless, and offers high convenience. It received Class II approval from the U.S. FDA, corresponding to home-use medical devices, and also obtained the European CE certification. The company is currently planning collaborations with overseas distributors and global pharmaceutical companies.

IL Science also developed LED security lights capable of measuring fine dust concentration and streetlights that can charge electric vehicles using solar power. The idea of charging electric vehicles via streetlights was patented by CEO Song in 2009. In September last year, IL Science was registered as a partner company of Hyundai Mobis on the condition of supplying silicon lenses for automotive electronic equipment, which are now installed in Kia’s new vehicles.

◆ Expanding sales channels with solid technology... Expecting record performance this year= IL Science’s annual sales reached 18.3 billion KRW in 2018 and 20.3 billion KRW in 2019 but fell to 17.6 billion KRW last year. CEO Song explained that the decline was due to difficulties in face-to-face sales amid COVID-19, which impacted the business-to-business (B2B) sector. This year, the company is expanding sales channels to public institutions and local governments through the government’s preferential purchasing system for small and medium-sized enterprises’ technology development products. Especially with the government’s carbon neutrality policy and the expanding LED market, IL Science expects its best performance this year. High-efficiency LED lighting helps save electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently, IL Science was selected as a target company for KOTRA’s overseas branch project. Over the next year, it will receive support and consultation from KOTRA for market development in four countries: the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Additionally, through a Korea-Israel government joint project, the company is receiving 2 billion KRW in funding to conduct R&D aimed at shortening silicon lens production time and reducing costs. CEO Song said, "We adhere to a philosophy of doing beneficial work for human life and society with unique technology that others cannot imitate. Being a company loved by consumers is essential for sustainable growth. We will not lose our original intention to nurture this company into a global enterprise with entrepreneurial spirit."