CEA Tech, Fraunhofer ISE Strengthen Cooperation in Virtual Lab

To strengthen the already existing collaboration between the CEA’s technological research unit, CEA Tech in Grenoble and Chambery, France and the German Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg, the two partners have concluded a collaboration agreement to create a common “Virtual Lab.”
 
With this lab, Fraunhofer ISE and CEA Tech intend to combine forces in near-industry research to further develop high efficiency multi-junction solar cells, educate young scientists and work together to develop prototypes of next generation ultra-high efficiency solar cells. The launch of the joint lab officially began in May 2015 with the signing of the collaboration agreement.
 
The main focus of the planned collaboration is to create the most efficient photovoltaic products possible. The existing expertise and infrastructure of CEA Tech in microelectronics and photovoltaics, through its two labs Leti and Liten, and of Fraunhofer ISE in epitaxy and solar cell development are brought together in the “Virtual Lab” with the common goal of developing new products and opening up new markets.
 
Aside from concentrator photovoltaics, the target markets include solar cells specifically developed for consumer devices as well as solar cells for the classic photovoltaic market.
 
“We are looking forward to working with our colleagues at CEA Tech on new ultra-efficient solar cells and bringing them to market,” said Dr. Frank Dimroth, department head of III-V – Epitaxy and Solar Cells at Fraunhofer ISE.
 
Dr. Thomas Signamarcheix, head of the Advanced Substrates Laboratory at CEA Tech added, “We strongly believe that the collaboration between Fraunhofer ISE and CEA Tech will result in the best possible research offering for industry.”
 
Both research institutes have excellent, long-standing experience in strategic partnerships. One successful example, developed with their common business partner Soitec, is the world record for solar cells, with a maximum efficiency of 46%.
 
The successful cooperation between these two countries in the field of high efficiency multi-junction solar cells has already been acknowledged through the German-French Industry Awards (AHK Chamber of Commerce). In 2011, this award was jointly given to CEA Tech (back then CEA-Leti) and Fraunhofer ISE. The mutual recognition between France and Germany of each other’s research was demonstrated in 2010, when Dr. Dimroth received the Fondation Louis D award, the most important science award to be presented in France.