Research

Did you know?

For decades Philips Research has fueled Philips with new breakthrough innovations that had significant impact in various markets. Today, Philips Research is fully geared to bring meaningful innovations in health and well-being. To give you an impression of our innovations over the last years we listed some ‘did you knows’ for you!

1914 - 1938

Meet Gilles Holst, our first research director

1914

Meet Gilles Holst, our first research director. He patented the projection lamp in 1914

Almost 1 meter in diameter and 25,000 watt capacity, Goliath made headlines in 1919

1919

Almost 1 meter in diameter and 25,000 watt capacity, Goliath made headlines in 1919

NatLab image

1924

Before known as High Tech Campus, our research compound was called "NatLab"

Portable X-rays

1928

We invented the game changing portable X-rays in 1928 that allowed doctors to make bedside diagnoses

Philips Duo Spaarlamp

1928

Meet Philips Duo Spaarlamp, our first energy efficient light bulb. Launched in 1928

First road we lit up

1932

The first road that we lit up in 1932 – between Beek and Geleen in The Netherlands

Philora image

1932

This is Philora - launched in 1932 and was used to illuminate highways and ports

1939 - 1963

Philips-Miller sound system

1942

This Philips-Miller sound system proved our venture into the then-silent film business in 1942

Neon Tubes production 1946

1946

Illuminating the letters - a look at our neon tubes production in 1946

Port Radar System IJmuiden

1951

Our technology exploration also includes a large-scale port radar system that was installed in 1951 in Ijmuiden

1964 - 1988

Evoluon image

1966

Not an UFO - Eindhoven’s Evoluon building was built to celebrate our 75th anniversary

P-2000 1969

1969

Not known to many people, we took our first step in the PC industry in 1969

Dutch first satellite

1974

We took part in the launch of Dutch first satellite in 1974. It identified 6,000 ultraviolet sources in space

Videotelephony prototype

1974

@Skype in 1974? Our videotelephony prototype was ahead of its time

NatLab 1980

1980

This was how our Natlab looked like in 1980

Mick Jagger

1981

Mick Jagger needed some convincing about CDs – so he visited us in Eindhoven in 1981

1989 - 2014

iCat image

2005

Did it say meow? Meet our iCat a user-friendly personal robot prototype built in 2005

Balthasar van der Pol

2014

Today would’ve been Balthasar van der Pol’s birthday – he led the development of our first radio in 1920s

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