17th SilicoNPV Conference

A tandem needs two riders, moving in sync, each with their own strength, yet sharing one direction. It seems only fitting, then, that in 2027 the 7th tandemPV Workshop and the 17th SilicoNPV Conference should finally ride together — as tandemPV & SilicoNPV Week, April 5–9 in Karlsruhe, Germany.

And what better place for this ride than Karlsruhe itself? It was here, in 1817, that Karl Drais invented the very first bicycle — the humble two-wheeler that would one day evolve into the tandem. Two centuries later, we think it's time for a new kind of tandem to roll through this city: one built not of wheels and pedals, but of silicon and perovskite photovoltaics.

As a PV community, we can lean on some great history of our own — and much of it, fittingly, has roots right here. It was in Karlsruhe that Heinrich Hertz first proved the existence of electromagnetic waves, the very same waves that, as sunlight, we spend our careers trying to capture and convert. And it was Joseph von Fraunhofer who, through the dark lines he discovered in the solar spectrum, first taught us to read the light of the sun itself — a legacy carried forward today in the name of our co-host, Fraunhofer ISE. From Hertz's waves to Fraunhofer's lines to Drais's wheels, this region has always had a knack for turning fundamental discovery into something the world could ride, or run, on.

For years, our two communities have pedaled on parallel tracks: SilicoNPV pushing the boundaries of silicon photovoltaics, tandemPV exploring the frontiers of tandem and thin-film technologies. Yet anyone working in this field knows how closely these tracks run — and how much faster and farther we go when we ride together.

At the same time, each conference keeps its own program, its own traditions, and its own identity — because a good tandem needs two distinct riders, not one blurred shape.

How the Week Rides Together

• Monday, April 5 – Wednesday, April 7: The 7th tandemPV Workshop takes the front seat, with its own program dedicated to tandem and thin-film photovoltaics.
• Wednesday, April 7 – Friday, April 9: The 17th SilicoNPV Conference takes over, steering the second half of the week with its full program on silicon photovoltaics.
• Wednesday, April 7 — the Joint Day: Right at the midpoint, where both wheels turn together, this day is deliberately designed as shared ground. Industry contributions and keynote speakers addressing both communities will take center stage, giving everyone a chance to meet, exchange, and be inspired — before each workshop pedals on into its own remaining days.

Karlsruhe — cradle of the bicycle, birthplace of the electromagnetic wave, home to KIT, and close neighbor to Fraunhofer ISE — is the perfect place to bring these worlds together. We're excited to welcome scientists, engineers, and industry experts from across the globe for a week of cross-pollination, collaboration, and inspiration.

Climb aboard — we're looking forward to a fast, exciting ride together.

Prof.Uli Paetzold, KIT — Host, 7th tandemPV Workshop
Dr. Stefan Janz, Fraunhofer ISE — Host, 17th SilicoNPV Conference