Philips 2005 Annual Report Download - page 27

Philips Annual Report 2005 27
Next Simplicity
As part of our commitment to “sense and simplicity”, Philips Design was
commissioned to explore how our solutions could simplify people’s lives in the
nextthreetoveyears.Threedimensionsweredened:‘Senseinpeople’slives’,
‘Simplicity in functionality and usability’ and ‘Simplicity in look and feel’. With Next
Simplicity we have been exploring a vision of simplicity, all the time keeping end-
user insights, technological innovation and sociological trends at the center of our
thinking. The project resulted in 16 design concepts – one being these ‘LED Bulbs’
– that demonstrate how our focus on simplicity-led design is likely to translate
into new products across our healthcare, lifestyle and technology portfolio.
Closer technology ties with China
We continue to build closer relations with the Chinese
science and technology communities. In November 2005,
Philips Research signed a research and education agreement
with Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands)
and Zhejiang University (China). This agreement is intended
to foster a new culture of technical excellence through
the creation of a ‘brain bridge’ between eastern and western
universities, and to support China’s efforts to produce the
top-ighthomegrownscientistsandengineersneededto
sustain its growing economy.
At the same time, we are intensifying our efforts to
share knowledge with China on the issue of intellectual
property (IP). Hundreds of students attended courses
given by Philips IP professionals from the US and Europe
at the top Chinese universities of Renmin, Tsinghua and
Fudan. The IP Academy program was extended with an
exchange of IP experts, and we invited a number of
Chinese professors to visit various IP institutes in Europe,
including the Max Planck Institute in Munich, the Benelux
TrademarkofceinTheHagueandPhilipsIntellectual
Property & Standards in Eindhoven.
Safer drinking water
Some 1.2 billion people, 20% of the planet’s population,
have no access to safe drinking water. Addressing this most
fundamental of needs, we have developed an innovative
lamp solution to produce purer water in an environmentally
friendly manner. The Philips TUV lamps emit in a part of
the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum that is highly effective in
inactivating bacteria. Philips UV light makes drinking water
safer and improves its taste, odor and clarity. It can also be
used to purify air and sterilize surfaces.