With effect from July 1, German chemical and pharmaceutical producer Merck KGaA acquired all of the capital of its long-standing cooperation partner, Dutch start-up Peer+ for an undisclosed sum.

The company specializes in smart window technology.

Merck said it is leveraging its expertise as global market leader in liquid crystals to develop new fields of application for its technology beyond the traditional displays market.

The major innovation of liquid crystal windows, the Darmstadt group said, is that they can continuously switch from light to dark in just seconds. The optimally controlled light and temperature management can thus decisively improve the energy efficiency of a building, opening new architectural perspectives.

Merck and Peer have been cooperating closely since 2011 to develop a market-ready product and production concept for liquid crystal windows. In 2012, Merck acquired 70% of the Dutch company.

In future, Merck plans to concentrate R&D activity for liquid crystal window technology at the Peer+ site in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, where that company already has a small test facility focused on integrating the concept into industrial settings.

The first pilot projects are planned to start up in 2015.