Bolstering China with chips, lights

Gunnar Eberhardt drives customization of Osram's high-tech products for the domestic market

Osram's semiconductor-based technologies power products used in fields like virtual reality, autonomous driving and smart lighting solutions - all big themes in China. The country has emerged as "one of the most important markets" for the company for future growth and innovation, said Gunnar Eberhardt, president and CEO of the local arm of the Munich-headquartered multinational.

So important that in 2017, Osram's China business clocked sales of 837 million euros ($1.04 billion), up nearly 18 percent year-on-year, stronger than the market growth rate of 8 to 9 percent.