Dr. Christoph Brabec is a globally recognized leader in the field of photovoltaics and sustainable energy materials research. He currently holds the Chair of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and serves as Director of the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy. With a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Linz completed in 1995, his distinguished career spans prestigious academic appointments and significant industrial research roles. Prior to his current positions, he held leadership positions at Konarka Technologies, the pioneering manufacturer of organic photovoltaics, and served as a leading research scientist at Siemens Technology in Erlangen, establishing a robust foundation for his transformative contributions to solar energy technologies.
Dr. Brabec's groundbreaking research spans all aspects of photovoltaics with particular emphasis on emerging technologies and solution-processed semiconductors, resulting in an impressive publication record of over 1000 articles including more than 800 peer-reviewed papers and 100 patents. His work has earned him recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher for eleven consecutive years, demonstrating the profound impact of his contributions to materials science and renewable energy. Since 2018, he has pioneered the development of autonomous materials and device acceleration platforms that integrate machine learning with high-throughput experimental methods to revolutionize materials discovery. His innovative approaches to organic and perovskite solar cells have significantly advanced the field, with practical applications accelerating the global transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Brabec plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of photovoltaic technology through leadership of major initiatives including the SolarTAP project, where he coordinates efforts to develop printed emerging PV prototypes at the MW level. He has established himself as a visionary in creating interdisciplinary research ecosystems that bridge academic discovery with industrial implementation, fostering innovation transfer across the renewable energy sector. His current work focuses on developing scalable photovoltaic solutions that address the urgent global need for sustainable energy while maintaining economic viability and environmental responsibility. Dr. Brabec continues to mentor the next generation of materials scientists and engineers, ensuring that his legacy of innovation and practical application will extend far into the future of renewable energy research and deployment.
