Solar EnerTech Corporation has announced the inauguration of the Joint R&D Lab facilities to be operated by both Solar EnerTech and Shanghai University.

The Joint Lab consists of three integrated research facilities located at the university's College of Science and Physics, the College of Material Sciences, and at Solar EnerTech's production plant at Jinqiao Technology Park.

The planned areas of study include PV (photovoltaic) theory, thermo-physics, physics of materials and chemistry; research on efficient and ultra-efficient PV cells with high light-electricity conversion rates up to 20%-35%; environmentally friendly and high conversion-rate manufacturing technology of chemical compound film PV cell materials; high-reliability, low-cost manufacturing technologies and equipment for thin film PV cells; key material development of new low-cost flexible film PV cells and non-vacuum technology; and kKey technology and fundamental theory for third-generation PV cells.

The Joint Labs initiative comes as a direct outgrowth of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's trade mission to Shanghai in November 2006. That mission focused on energy cooperation and provided the impetus that introduced Solar Enertech, a Silicon Valley-based company, towards founding its solar cell manufacturing plant in Shanghai. Management further determined to undertake a strategic R&D leadership role, aiming to increase its position in the development of future technologies and to develop a platform that could foster the participation of California-based Universities at some point in the future.

During the opening ceremonies, Solar EnerTech's CEO, Leo S. Young, emphasized the importance of the Joint Lab as a major attractant of qualified scientists and skilled technicians leading to the building of a human resource base of specialists for the solar industry. Professors are able to design their curriculum using advanced PV technology and equipment so that students can translate their first-hand knowledge on Solar EnerTech's experimental and production facilities towards the acquisition of valuable post-graduate experience. The joint initiative has already engaged, through an application and qualification process, eight professors and more than twenty post-graduate students along with a large number of graduate students.

Solar Enertech plans to invest a total of US$4 million over the next five years in order to ensure the success of its newly created Joint R&D Lab.

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