The Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications of Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ-GÜNAM, Ankara, Türkiye) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Freiburg, Germany) signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the 42nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2025). With this
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two institutions aim to strengthen applied PV research and accelerate the industrialization of next-generation photovoltaic technologies.
Under the agreement, the collaboration will include:
- Planning and setup of PV production lines,
- Development of technology roadmaps,
- Equipment and material selection,
- Prototyping and demonstration,
- Certification and testing,
- R&D and process optimization on silicon wafers, cells, and modules.
Türkiye has recently made significant investments in photovoltaics and now ranks first in Europe and fourth worldwide in module production capacity. Furthermore, within the framework of the
HIT-30 High-Tech Investment Program, the Turkish government has allocated USD 2.5 billion to establish large-scale solar cell production. Germany, on the other hand, with its long-standing tradition in photovoltaics, is seeking to sustain and expand domestic manufacturing capacities through new collaborations.
Prof. Andreas Bett, Director of Fraunhofer ISE, commented at the signing ceremony:
“Applied research does not work in isolation; we need feedback from industry to understand their challenges and needs. Building this partnership with ODTÜ-GÜNAM and learning from Türkiye’s PV industry experience is extremely valuable to us.”
Prof. Dr. Raşit Turan, Chair of ODTÜ-GÜNAM Board and Division Coordinator of Silicon Photovoltaics, added:
“For more than four decades, Fraunhofer ISE has been pioneering solar energy research. Our initial collaborations have been highly successful, and with this new agreement, we look forward to realizing joint projects that will accelerate the development and industrialization of PV technologies.”
As part of the cooperation, ODTÜ-GÜNAM and Fraunhofer ISE will organize joint workshops and training sessions, develop pilot projects to de-risk new technologies before scaling up, apply for joint national and international funding, conduct market research, and engage with industry, academia, and policy stakeholders.
📅 The first joint workshop,
“Industrial Solar Cell and Module Production in Türkiye”, will take place on
October 30, 2025, hosted by ODTÜ-GÜNAM in Ankara. A second joint workshop is already planned for March 2026.
🔗 Read Fraunhofer ISE’s press release here:
https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/news/2025/odtu-Gunam-and-Fraunhofer-ISE-join-forces-in-photovoltaics-research.html
