Test bed for new solar energy solutions focusing on technology and business development
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SP SVERIGES TEKNISKA FORSKNINGSINSTITUT AB - SP Energiteknik, Borås |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 000 000 |
| Project duration | November 2013 - March 2016 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Several experienced players in the solar energy field have co-developed and now operates an open and in some respects competitive test bed. Project generation, increased knowledge about common resources and identification of user needs have been central to the project. The results, together with a description of our joint offerings and resources are presented in a guide to the test bed. Support functions for IP issues and funding are now available from experts at SP and at Chalmers Ventures, which also has resources for financing new businesses and startup companies.
Expected results and effects
A startup company and three major multi-disciplinary R&D projects are tangible results of the project. An innovation cluster with cooperative participants and strong resources for development, test and demo has been formed, which in 3-5 years is expected to be of great importance for the development of the Swedish solar market and of a viable industry. This is further strengthened by the Strategic innovation agenda for solar electricity that has been produced as a spinoff from the project. An application for funding of an innovation program based on the agenda is currently discussed.
Planned approach and implementation
A multidisciplinary team with representation of experience and expertise from large parts of the value chain has resulted in an effective idea- and project generation process. The large number of partners made the project administratively cumbersome. Equivalent or better results could have been achieved with significantly fewer partners. The combination of technical and entrepreneurial expertise has given interesting results and a further strengthening of cooperation between the SP and Chalmers Ventures has the potential to develop into a very powerful innovation resource.