Konarka's Chief Scientist Honored For Innovative Solar Research

Lowell, MA - Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plastic, a material that converts light to energy, recently announced that the Organizing Committee of the Eni Italgas Prize awarded the Science and Environment Prize to Dr. Alan J. Heeger, Ph.D., the Company's co-founder and chief scientist, for his innovative research on solar cells made with flexible materials, which is summarized in his abstract entitled, "Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells Fabricated from Semiconducting Polymers."

"On behalf of the Members of the Scientific Commission, the Scientific Secretariat and the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, I would like to express our deepest congratulations and most profound recognition for the outstanding accomplishments of Dr. Heeger's work and commitment to scientific research in finding solutions to the world's energy issues," commented Georgiana Eaton, scientific secretariat of the Eni Italgas Prize.

"The very high level of the research this year emphasizes the importance of the Prize for technological innovation and scientific excellence."

According to Dr. Heeger, his research, has created a new approach to efficient, low cost, large area, flexible and light-weight solar cells. His work in this area over the past decade has provided a firm scientific foundation for "plastic" bulk heterojunction solar cells. He and his colleagues have made progress towards the commercial realization of this goal. The first "plastic" solar cells fabricated from large scale, high speed printing were successfully demonstrated in July 2006.

Dr. Heeger shares the Prize with Armand Paul Alivisatos for his studies on very thin solar cells composed of miniscule photosensitive crystals (nanocrystals). The Prize recognizes scientists who have achieved relevant results in research on energy sources and its relation to the environment.

This year, candidates originated from 19 countries, with 103 submissions for the "Science and Environment" award. The Prize will be given by the President of Italgas Paolo Caropreso during an Official Award Winning Ceremony to be held in Torino in March 2007. For more information, you can visit: http://www.premioitalgas.it.

SOURCE: Konarka Technologies, Inc.