To be sure, innovation has thrived in these settings, but it has been the sort of process improvement innovation that makes existing industries function better rather than the type that creates new markets, caters to new consumers, or pioneers new business models.

FORBES: Fundamental Changes in How Emerging Markets Innovate

The UCLA Engineering team created a new type of energy-harvesting polarizer for LCDs called a polarizing organic photovoltaic, which can potentially boost the function of an LCD by working simultaneously as a polarizer, a photovoltaic device and an ambient light or sunlight photovoltaic panel.

ENGADGET: Photovoltaic polarizers could make self-charging smartphone dreams come true