FLISOM AG

Their core work

FLISOM AG is a Swiss SME that develops and manufactures flexible thin-film solar cells based on CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) technology. Their core business is producing lightweight, bendable photovoltaic modules suitable for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and other applications where rigid silicon panels cannot be used. Within EU research consortia, they contribute their flexible CIGS manufacturing expertise to projects advancing solar cell efficiency, cost reduction, and integration into building envelopes for near-zero energy buildings (nZEB).

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

FLISOM's early H2020 work (2015-2017) centered on fundamental solar cell efficiency improvements (Sharc25 targeting 25% CIGS efficiency) and demonstrating BIPV systems for market deployment (PVSITES). Their later projects (2018-2023) shifted toward practical commercialization challenges: reducing manufacturing costs, optimizing the value chain, and meeting nZEB regulatory targets. This trajectory shows a clear move from R&D-stage efficiency research toward market-ready, cost-competitive BIPV products.

FLISOM is moving from laboratory efficiency gains toward commercial-scale BIPV manufacturing at competitive costs, making them increasingly relevant for construction and building energy partners.

How they like to work

FLISOM exclusively participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, which is typical for a technology SME contributing specialized manufacturing capability to larger research efforts. With 66 unique partners across 16 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia — their projects average over 16 partners each. This suggests they are a trusted specialist that larger consortia invite when they need flexible thin-film solar cell expertise.

FLISOM has built a broad European network of 66 unique consortium partners spanning 16 countries through just 4 projects, indicating consistent participation in large-scale, multi-national energy research consortia. Their network is heavily weighted toward the European photovoltaics and building energy community.

What sets them apart

FLISOM occupies a rare niche as one of very few European manufacturers of flexible CIGS thin-film solar cells — a technology that enables photovoltaic integration on curved, lightweight, or unconventional surfaces where standard rigid panels simply won't work. For consortium builders, they bring actual manufacturing capability rather than just research, bridging the gap between lab-scale CIGS research and real-world BIPV products. Their Swiss base and SME status also make them attractive for proposals needing associated country participation and industrial SME involvement.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BIPVBOOST
  Largest EC contribution (EUR 598,416) and most commercially focused project, targeting cost reduction across the entire BIPV value chain for nZEB buildings.
• Sharc25
  High-ambition fundamental research project pushing CIGS thin-film efficiency toward 25%, representing the scientific frontier of FLISOM's core technology.
• PVSITES
  Large-scale BIPV market deployment project that positioned FLISOM's flexible modules for real-world building integration demonstrations.