The laboratory will be for the applied printed paper photovoltaics and will be setup in the campus at Manipal.

In the last decade, pmTUC has focused on printing electronic devices on paper. Photovoltaics, which refers to the electronic conversion of light into electricity, has been particularly considered as attractive. However, silicon electronics could not satisfy the expectations, despite extensive and costly research.

The contribution of photovoltaics to power generation is small today and excellent research has brought about complex solar technologies, which still produce expensive electricity. Now, printed paper photovoltaic (3PV) concept pursues the strategy to produce solar panels, which not only have moderate energy efficiencies and rather short life times, but which are also prepared with the cheapest possible materials and by means of very cost-effective mass-printing, thus, offering significant advantages in the overall balance.

With the latest publication on solar cells, it was possible to establish a research facility focusing on the application side. This will be a next step in the Indo-German collaboration.

Manipal University is one of the oldest private universities across India. The technical courses of Manipal University will provide a skilled platform for this laboratory.