Liquid crystal captures spirit of science

Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, right, talks to The Korea Times' Managing Editor Oh Young-jin. / Korea Times photo by Yoon Sung-won

By Yoon Sung-won

Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, head of a German pharmaceutical-chemical company, said that patents are power for further growth and protecting them is very important.

"The principle is that if you don't protect your patent, it will be open up and lose its value," the chairman of the Family Board of The Merck Group told The Korea Times. "Then why should you invest hundreds of millions into developing certain things if you don't protect patents?"

Referring to the company's "wide-sighted" effort in researching liquid crystal, Stangenberg-Haverkamp said developing a new technology requires significant effort as well as a mindset to maintain the progress of the company.

Merck started researching liquid crystal when nobody realized its profitability. It was after the 1970s that its use as the material for displays was discovered. Thanks to continuous investment by the family, Merck now owns a wide-range of patent portfolio related to liquid crystal and holds 64 percent of its global market share.

Secret of Merck success: mentality

2014-03-26 17:05 | Features

"As a business, we understood that we have to be profitable to survive, but at the same time we were a research-driven family business with this belief in deciding to invest money," he said. "After all, that became our competitive edge, that we are willing to fight not to lose it."

Admitting that patent rights should be protected at all cost, meanwhile, Stangenberg-Haverkamp said the years-long patent dispute between Samsung Electronics and Apple has left an impression to him that it is a fight for fight's sake.

"In my private opinion, Apple seems to be using the patent issue just as an excuse to fight Samsung," he said.

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