3M is investing in Mary Lou Jepson’s Pixel Qi company, which produces dual-mode transreflective displays that can operate in LCD color or low-energy monochrome e-ink-like modes. Engadget has the press release and some commentary.
So far, while the Pixel Qi displays have seemed fairly impressive in what they could do, they have not yet been produced in large numbers or used in any very successful hardware. The infusion of an undisclosed amount of cash by a major corp like 3M might just change that.