Japanese module manufacturer Kyocera has joined the industrial partner programme of Belgian nanoelectronics research institute imec.
The company will join the imec industrial affiliation programme (IIAP), which looks to develop commercially relevant improvements in solar cell and module efficiencies.
“The commitment from Kyocera is a confirmation of the significance of our solar cell research for the global PV market,” said Luc Van den hove, president and CEO, imec. “It is my strongest conviction that only by investing in R&D and innovation, companies can prepare for the future and stay ahead of the competition in a challenging environment such as the PV market.”
The IIAP claims to accelerate the development of intellectual property by allowing companies to cost effectively expand their R&D capabilities while sharing some of the associated risks. It also creates the opportunity to work with imec’s own experts.
“By collaborating with imec and its partners, we hope to further advance silicon photovoltaic cell technologies in order to make solar energy more accessible and usable for society,” said Nobuo Kitamura, senior executive officer and general manager of the corporate solar energy group, Kyocera Corporation.
“As a pioneer of solar energy with over four decades of experience, Kyocera remains committed to promoting the further use of solar power generation and we believe that the IIAP provides us with these opportunities by bringing together the expertise from leaders in the industry,” added Kitamura.
