Individual actors from industry and academia are collaborating on an international level through many European funded projects (see Projects). On an institutional level Switzerland coordinates its research, technology and development (RTD) activities through different organisations:
IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS TCP)
Switzerland is participating through the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE to the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS), a collaborative R&D agreement established within the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 1993. Swiss Experts are participating in different sub-programmes (tasks):
| Nr. | Title | Swiss experts | |
| Task 1 | Strategic PV Analysis & Outreach | Planair SA | Reports |
| Task 12 | PV Sustainability | treeze Ltd. | Reports |
| Task 13 | Performance, Operation and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems | SUPSI, SPF, ZHAW, BFE, CSEM | Reports |
| Task 14 | Solar PV in the 100% RES Power System | Planair SA, BFH, Basler & Hofmann AG | Reports |
| Task 15 | Enabling Framework for the Development of BIPV | SUPSI, Viridén + Partner, Solaxess | Reports |
| Task 16 | Solar Resource for High Penetration and Large Scale Applications | Meteotest (Operating Agent), SPF | Reports |
| Task 17 | PV and Transport | Dr. Schüpbach & Muntwyler GmbH | Reports |
| Task 18 | Off-Grid and Edge-of-Grid Photovoltaic Systems | NN | Reports |
If you are interested to participate in this international network as a Swiss expert contact with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy as national contact point.
Key publications: Snapshot Reports, Trends Reports, National Survey Reports, Annual reports, Newsletter Solar European Research Area Network (SOLAR-ERA.NET)
Switzerland is participating with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE and NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG (coordinator) to this European network for transnational cooperation between RTD and innovation programmes. Swiss partners in SOLAR-ERA.NET-projects are supported via projects financed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE:
| Title | Start | End | Calls | Participants |
| SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund 2 (H2020) | 2018-06-01 | 2023-05-31 | 3 | 18 |
| SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund (H2020) | 2016-11-01 | 2021-10-31 | 1 | 15 |
| SOLAR-ERA.NET | 2012-11-01 | 2016-10-31 | 4 | 19 |
| PV-ERANET (self-sustained) | 2009-10 | 2012-10 | 1 | 17 |
| PV-ERANET | 2004-10-01 | 2009-09-30 | 1 | 22 |
Swiss participation in SOLAR-ERA.NET projects:
| 1 | COMET | Copper metallization for sustainable n-type PV technologies (SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund 2, Call 2021, ID:18) | 2022–2026 |
| 2 | DELIGHT | Design and Evaluation of Lightweight Composite PV Modules for Integration in Buildings and Infrastructure (SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund 2, Call 2021, ID:4) | 2022–2026 |
| 3 | PV-DETECT | Accelerated product development for unconventional PV-applications through advanced reliability testing com-bined with early degradation detection (SOLAR-ERA.NET Call 2021, ID: 24) | 2022–2026 |
| 4 | AMBIPV2 | Adapted Modules for Bifacial Photovoltaics (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2020–2023 |
| 5 | SCALEUP | Model Validation and Stability Characterization Platform with Atmosphere Control for Perovskite Solar Cells (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2020–2023 |
| 6 | BOBTANDEM | Band Offset selective Barrier Three Terminal perovskite on silicon high efficiency Tandem Solar Cell (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2019–2023 |
| 7 | CUSTCO | Cost efficient, upscalable and stable transparent conductive oxides for silicon solar cells based on passivated contacts (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2019–2023 |
| 8 | Solar Cofund 2 | SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund 2 (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2018–2023 |
| 9 | NEXT-FOIL | Next generation conductive solar foil for flexible photovoltaics (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2018–2020 |
| 10 | 1500-SIC | Photovoltaik-Inverter with SiC for full power operation at 1500V (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2018–2021 |
| 11 | PANELPV | Sandwich panels with integrated PV with freedom of size and color (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2018–2020 |
| 12 | FRONTCIGS | Re-designing front window in flexible CIGS modules for cost-effective moisture protection (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2017–2019 |
| 13 | ENMESH | Enabling Micro-Concentrator Photovoltaics with Novel Interconnection Methods (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2017–2020 |
| 14 | SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund | SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2016–2021 |
| 15 | HESTPV | HESTPV – Scalable High-throughput Characterization Platform for High-Efficiency and Stable Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2016–2019 |
| 16 | CUMAPRO | Massenproduktion von kundenspezifischen PV-Modulen für die Gebäudeintegration, Customised Mass Production (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2015–2018 |
| 17 | U-LIGHT | Ultra lightweight PV modules (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2015–2018 |
| 18 | NOVAZOLAR | Solution deposited ZnO-based front contacts for CIGS solar cells (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2014–2017 |
| 19 | DiGASP | Simulation Approach to Investigate the Impact of Distributed Power Generation with Photovoltaics on a Power Grid (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2010–2012 |
| 20 | HIOS-Cell | Nanoscale structuring of heterojunction ionic organic solar cells by liquid-liquid dewetting (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2009–2011 |
| 21 | Apollo | Efficient Areal Organic Solar Cells via Printing (SOLAR-ERA.NET) | 2008–2011 |
European Technology & Innovation Platforms (ETIPs) have been created by the European Commission in the framework of the new Integrated Roadmap Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) by bringing together EU countries, industry, and researchers in key areas. They promote the market uptake of key energy technologies by pooling funding, skills, and research facilities. Switzerland is participating to the European platform Platform for Photovoltaics (ETIP PV) in different working groups via R&D institutes.
Working groups: LCOE & Competiveness, Integrated PV, Digital PV Systems and Grid, PV Industry Forum, PV Quality & Reliability
SolarPower Europe
European association representing organisations active along the whole photovoltaics value chain. Switzerland is represented by various members from industry and research.