The key focus for SPECIFIC will be to accelerate the commercialisation of IP, knowledge and expertise held between the University partners (Swansea, ICL, Bath, Strathclyde, Glyndwr, and Bangor) and UK based industry in three key areas of electricity generation from solar energy (photovoltaics), heat generation (solar thermal) and storage/controlled release. The combination of functionality will be achieved through applying functional coatings to metal and glass surfaces. Critical to this success is the active involvement in the Centre of the global steel giant Tata and the global glass manufacturer Pilkington. These two materials dominate the facings of the building stock and are surfaces which can be engineered. In addition major chemical companies (such as BASF, Akzo Nobel, Beckers and Johnson Matthey) are involved in the project, as well as specialist suppliers to the emerging PV industry (such as Dyesol). This range of internationally recognised partners gives SPECIFIC both academic depth and industrial relevance. To maximise open innovation, colleagues from industry will be based in SPECIFIC on both a permanent and part-time basis.
