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Researchers in Saxony are developing biotechnological cell factories that do not require agricultural land or fossil raw materials. Chemnitz University of Technology, Leipzig University, and Fraunhofer FEP are using microalgae to produce the important basic chemical glycolate from carbon dioxide and sunlight - a building block for medicines, preservatives, and polymers that is currently produced from partially toxic fossil raw materials.

Fraunhofer FEP uses multifunctional coating systems to demonstrate how sustainability can be implemented in surface technology. A prime example is the innovative MAXI system. It has been operating successfully for 25 years and proves that intelligent technology both conserves resources and enables versatile research and development tasks. In a tutorial at the V2025 conference, Fraunhofer FEP will provide a comprehensive overview of completed projects and future developments.

Oulu, Finland – At month 18 of its three-year Horizon Europe project, the PEARL consortium has made decisive progress toward its target of 25% efficient, low-cost flexible perovskite solar cells with carbon electrodes. By combining cutting-edge materials research, pilot-scale roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing and comprehensive sustainability measures, partners across Europe have delivered a series of significant achievements.

As part of the Design-PV project, Fraunhofer FEP has made significant progress in developing aesthetically appealing solutions for building-integrated photovoltaics. Technologies such as roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography enable solar modules to be seamlessly integrated into building facades without compromising the design. Initial tests show that the modules are visually indistinguishable from conventional facade elements yet offer high energy efficiency.

Fraunhofer FEP has developed a new roll-to-roll production process for manufacturing metal-on-polymer current collectors. This technology enables the precise application of copper and aluminum layers onto polymer films to produce current collectors with electrical conductivity and thickness comparable to conventional metal foil-based current collectors. These results provide industry with a valuable basis for optimizing lithium-ion batteries.

New investment from the European Commission is helping innovators exploit the unique properties of light technologies to add smart features and improve the performance of their products through a proven ‘one-stop-shop’ photonics innovation factory.

The EU-funded LUMINOSITY project brings together research and industry partners across Europe to further develop perovskite solar cells on flexible substrates. The project partner Fraunhofer FEP is making promising progress in the deposition of tin oxide and cesium iodide using its expertise in anodic arc evaporation. These innovative technologies are the basis for the development of flexible perovskite solar cells, which will enable environmentally friendly solar energy of the next generation. The project will be presented at the pro flex conference for roll-to-roll coatings of flexible materials on May 6 and 7 in Dresden.

As part of the EU project PERSEUS, Fraunhofer FEP is developing new optically effective surface structures for perovskite solar cells. By using roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography (NIL), reflection losses are to be minimized, and the efficiency of solar cells increased. In the Design-PV project, decorative surfaces for facade-integrated photovoltaic modules are developed using NIL. The versatile NIL technology also offers application possibilities in areas such as antifouling, anti-reflective coatings, and medical engineering. Fraunhofer FEP will provide insights into the progress and possibilities of the new process technology during ICE Europe 2025, from March 11 – 13, 2025, in Munich at booth No. 1720 in Hall A5.