Inside NOI Techpark: solar innovation for building facades

A research and industry collaboration supported through the Fusion Grant programme explored how photovoltaic technology could be more effectively integrated into building facades, with potential applications across the construction and renewable energy sectors. 

The PV Face project brought together the Institute for Renewable Energy at Eurac Research and STG Lab, the research, development and prototyping start-up of GruppoSTG. The project was supported through the Fusion Grant initiative, delivered in partnership with NOI Techpark, alongisde the South Tyrolean Business Association and Rete Economia–Wirtschaftsnetz. 

By designing solar generation into the building envelope rather than treating it as a separate addition, the aim was to deliver practical benefits across the construction supply chain, including for module manufacturers, facade engineers, window makers and construction companies. A central objective was to support architects and developers in specifying solar solutions without compromising a building's design, a consideration that has, to date, slowed the uptake of more conventional panel installations. 

The Fusion Grant programme provides a framework for this type of research–industry cooperation in South Tyrol, including opportunities for early-career researchers to participate in industry-relevant projects. The PV Face project ran from April 2025 to March 2026, with its work focused on strengthening the regional supply chain for integrated photovoltaics.