FUNDACJA SAULE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Their core work

Saule Research Institute is a Polish research foundation specializing in perovskite photovoltaics — a next-generation solar technology that can be printed onto flexible substrates and integrated directly into building surfaces. Their core work covers the full chain from fundamental materials science (ab initio electronic structure calculations, nanocrystal synthesis) to application-ready devices such as flexible solar cells and LEDs produced via inkjet printing. They apply this expertise to real-world energy challenges, including integrating photovoltaic and thermal systems into the envelopes of non-residential buildings aiming for near-zero energy performance. The institute is closely associated with Saule Technologies, one of Europe's most prominent perovskite solar cell companies, giving their research an unusually direct commercial orientation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Both H2020 projects launched in 2019, so there is no multi-year temporal arc to trace, but the two projects reveal a deliberate dual track within the same founding year. The early project keyword set (buildings, façades, thermal insulation, vacuum insulation panels, nZEB, storage) reflects an application-layer focus — deploying solar technology in the built environment. The later keyword set (lead-free perovskites, ab initio electronic structure, synthesis of nanocrystals, inkjet printing, flexible photonics) shows a parallel deep-materials track pushing the underlying technology toward non-toxic, printable, flexible form factors. The trajectory suggests the institute is moving from proving perovskite PV in buildings toward establishing printable perovskites as a platform technology for flexible electronics broadly.

They are converging on inkjet-printed, lead-free perovskite as a platform — expect future projects around scalable manufacturing of flexible PV and optoelectronics, likely bridging materials science and industrial production readiness.

How they like to work

Saule Research Institute has participated in EU projects exclusively as a consortium partner — never as coordinator — which is consistent with a young, specialised institute contributing deep technical expertise to larger cross-sector consortia rather than leading programme management. With 19 unique partners across 11 countries from just two projects, they engage in broad European networks. No partner overlap between the two projects is evident, suggesting they join consortia based on thematic fit rather than maintaining a fixed inner circle.

The institute has built a network of 19 unique partners across 11 countries from just two projects — a surprisingly wide reach for such a small portfolio, indicating they are deliberately inserted into large pan-European consortia. Their geographic footprint spans multiple EU member states, though no single country cluster dominates.

What sets them apart

Saule Research Institute occupies a rare position as a research foundation with direct ties to a commercial perovskite solar company (Saule Technologies), meaning their research is grounded in manufacturability constraints rather than purely academic curiosity. Within Poland, they are among the very few organisations with demonstrated EU-funded expertise specifically in inkjet-printed perovskite photovoltaics — a technology sector where Poland otherwise has limited representation. For consortium builders, they offer a combination of materials science depth, device engineering capability, and a clear line of sight to commercial scale-up that most university labs cannot credibly claim.

Highlights from their portfolio

• POWERSKIN PLUS
  Largest grant (€362,500) and longest duration (2019-2024), integrating perovskite PV directly into modular building façade systems alongside vacuum insulation and thermal storage — a full system-level demonstration.
• DROP-IT
  Tackles the toxicity barrier of perovskite technology head-on by developing lead-free alternatives deposited via inkjet printing, extending the platform to flexible LEDs and photonics beyond solar cells.