The topics that will be covered in this year's "Photovoltaics Beyond Conventional Silicon" conference will be providing insight into some of the industry's most interesting issues. Academic and industrial speakers as well as speakers from renowned research institutes from across the globe will be focusing on the following topics:

Organic PV

The promise of large area flexible solar cells is becoming a reality, especially with moves such as Konarka's roll to roll production facility in Massachusetts. Organic solar cells still have several challenges to overcome but research efforts are achieving gradual improvements in performance that will allow further widespread adoption of these technologies.

Inorganic thin film PV

Amorphous Silicon and CdTe technologies are currently dominating the inorganic thin film market. CIGS technologies are catching up but at a slower pace than initially expected due to set backs when moving from laboratory scale to full production. Find out which are the new big names in the field, and how they are tackling the challenges they face.

Hybrid/ Nano-enabled Technologies

Organic Solar concentrators, DSSC's, quantum dot sensitization, just a few of the ways that bring together organic and inorganic materials, a synergy that promises exciting and sometimes unexpected results. From company's ready to enter roll to roll production to laboratory research of novel systems, these technologies could disrupt the growth of the markets for pure organic or pure inorganic solar cells.

Manufacturing techniques

Whether it's sputtering or printing technologies, atmospheric pressure or in vacuum processes, the opportunity that solar has to offer has attracted a wide range of equipment manufacturers who will present their technology offerings and their work on adapting their equipment to fit the needs and requirements of the solar industry.

Market trends

Which technology will be the ultimate winner in terms of market share? Will there be a unique technology solution that fulfills all requirements or will each technology carve its own niche market? How is the credit crunch affecting companies in different stages and in different parts of the world?