HKUST Hosts Interdisciplinary Global Conference on Advanced Solar Tech

As the world pivots toward a sustainable energy future, the need for greater interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange is becoming more urgent.

In response, elite scientists, engineers, and industry partners from Asia, Europe, and the Americas convened at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from February 24 to 27 to explore the latest innovations in sustainable energy research.

The International Conference on Perovskite Solar Cells (IC-PSC)—held at the Kaisa Group Lecture Theater within HKUST’s Jockey Club Institute of Advanced Studies—underscored HKUST's pivotal role in driving innovation and, specifically, in exchanging knowledge on perovskite photovoltaics.

These cells are poised to revolutionize solar energy with higher efficiency, lower production costs, and versatile applications. With participation from top academic institutions, national laboratories, and renewable energy companies worldwide, IC-PSC highlighted the growing global momentum behind next-generation solar technologies.

Prof. Yike GUO, Provost of HKUST, delivered the welcome address at IC-PSC. 

Prof. Yike GUO, Provost of HKUST and an International Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, opened the conference—a key event in HKUST’s 35th anniversary celebrations—by emphasizing the strategic importance of advancing photovoltaic innovation. 

"As the world accelerates its transition toward clean energy, breakthroughs in perovskite solar cell technology represent a critical pathway to affordable, scalable, and sustainable power solutions," Prof. Guo said. "HKUST is proud to host this international collaboration, bringing together brilliant minds to turn scientific discovery into real-world impact."

HKUST’s Prof. Yuanyuan ZHOU was the Lead Co-Chair of IC-PSC. 

The event was chaired by Prof. Yuanyuan ZHOU, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at HKUST, and Prof. Alex K.-Y. JEN from City University of Hong Kong (CityU), with Prof. Xinhe BAO (Fudan University), a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the former president of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), serving as the Honorary Chair. 

The conference committee included representatives from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and CityU.

Throughout the conference, the IC-PSC attendees engaged in technical sessions, panel discussions, and networking forums focused on key challenges and opportunities in perovskite research. These sessions included stability enhancement, large-scale manufacturing, and environmental sustainability. 

The featured internationally recognized experts included Prof. Yongfang LI (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Prof. Nam-Gyu PARK (Sungkyunkwan University), Prof. Nitin PADTURE (Brown University), Prof. Jinsong HUANG (University of North Carolina), Prof. Michael SALIBA (University of Stuttgart), Prof. Letian DOU (Emory University, USA), and Prof. Tae Woo LEE (Seoul National University), among others.

The topics addressed included wide-bandgap and tandem architectures, interfacial engineering, mechanical reliability, tin-based perovskites, green processing, scalable module fabrication, and recycling strategies. 

Additionally, dedicated Spotlight Talk Sessions and Junior Researcher Talks created a platform for emerging investigators to present their cutting-edge findings, fostering cross-generational dialogue within the field.

The conference received significant support from various HKUST units: 

• Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
• HKUST Energy Institute, School of Engineering
• Otto Poon Center for Climate Resilience and Sustainability
• State Key Laboratory for Displays and Optoelectronics
• Jockey Club Institute of Advanced Studies. 

External parties such as the Journal of Energy Chemistry, part of Science ChinaPress, and the China Merchants Group also contributed to the event's success. 

By convening this high-level dialogue, HKUST is further strengthening its position as a hub for interdisciplinary research and international partnerships in renewable energy. 

The insights and connections shared at IC-PSC look set to kick-start new collaborative projects, accelerate technology transfer, and contribute meaningfully to global decarbonization goals.