EuroCZFactory partners gathered on 23 and 24 June 2026 for a two-day kick-off meeting in Trondheim, Norway, hosted by SINTEF. The meeting brought together 16 partners from across Europe's solar PV manufacturing, research and innovation sectors to align on the project's technical roadmap and first implementation steps. The project focuses on silicon ingots and wafers, the materials that form the basis of solar cells. While Europe continues to expand solar deployment, it currently has limited production capacity in this part of the value chain.
Building European PV expertise
Over the next 42 months, the consortium will develop the technologies and processes needed to support European Czochralski ingot and wafer production. This includes improving how silicon crystals are grown and processed into wafers, integrating digital tools into manufacturing processes and demonstrating the technology through pilot operations using full-scale equipment. By working on this early stage of solar manufacturing, EuroCZFactory aims to build European expertise and know-how, help reduce the manufacturing gap and contribute to future industrial initiatives in Europe.
Next steps
During the kick-off meeting, partners presented the project's main technical work areas, governance structure and coordination framework. Discussions also highlighted the importance of connecting EuroCZFactory with wider European initiatives working to strengthen the PV manufacturing ecosystem. The first months of the project will focus on laying the foundations for implementation, including technical specifications, partner coordination, the project's visual identity and public communication channels.