Olga Malinkiewicz and her team at Saule Technologies have won the European Inventor Award 2024 in the SMEs category for their printable and flexible perovskite solar cell. She also become the first Polish woman to receive this prestigious award by the European Patent Office (EPO).
On Tuesday, Malinkiewicz was presented with the award at a ceremony at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Malta.
Printable perovskite solar cells, developed by Olga Malinkiewicz and her team, could boost global renewable energy generation as a lightweight and flexible method of harnessing solar energy. The exceptional qualities of perovskite allow for generating energy from both sunlight and artificial light, opening a broad range of application possibilities and introducing a breakthrough concept of light recycling. As this technology is printed and flexible, it is more adaptable and cheaper to produce.
“Perovskite is easier to find, easier to use, and more efficient than the silicon we usually use to make a solar cell. But most importantly, perovskite can be dissolved to create a printable ink. By printing the solar cell, we can turn almost any surface into a source of clean energy. This printing process revolutionizes solar panels. We can use less power to produce more energy.” – said Olga Malinkiewicz in the video on the European Patent Office’s YouTube channel.
Source: European Patent Office
Dr Malinkiewicz and her team were also awarded the “Popular Prize”, the award category chosen by the public.
What is the European Inventor Award?
The European Inventor Award pays tribute to inventors worldwide. It celebrates those who transform their ideas into technological progress, economic growth or improvements to our daily lives. Launched in 2006, the Award gives inventors the recognition they deserve and, like any good competition, it acts as an incentive for others.
Watch the European Inventor Award ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/i7yIoUvRVeQ
