About SolTech

SolTech is an interdisciplinary project initiated by the government of Bavaria to explore innovative concepts for converting solar energy into electricity and non-fossil fuels. SolTech complements research by chemists and physicists at five different Bavarian Universities and is funded with 50 million Euro. 
Humanity will exhaust the earth’s supply of fossil fuels in the foreseeable future. Non-fossil energy sources, such as sunlight, cannot yet replace current fossil and nuclear fuels on a satisfactory level. Chemists and physicists of five Bavarian universities  (Key Laboratories) joined together in the state funded new research network Solar Technologies go Hybrid (SolTech) to synergize their research and explore the full use of sunlight as the principal energy source of our planet. 
The SolTech network covers all fields of research on solar energy use, i.e. the conversion of solar energy to electricity for immediate use and the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy  for storage and future use.

Students benefit from the new network

New research methods and insights into the chemistry and physics of photoactive materials are naturally integrated into teaching. Lectures and courses  covering the forefront of solar technology research enable students to not only learn from the best, but also to do their share for a reliable energy supply as future scientists.

Latest News

18. July 2025

SolTech Student Board Meeting 2025 in Bayreuth

This year, the KeyLab at the University of Bayreuth was responsible for organizing the annual meeting of the student board within the Bavarian research network "Solar Technologies Go Hybrid". The meeting took place on May 22nd and 23rd, 2025, and welcomed a diverse and international group of young researchers from all five KeyLabs to this event. The program began with visits to several research facilities...
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14. July 2025

Another ERC Advanced Grant for Frank Würthner

For the second time, Würzburg chemistry professor Frank Würthner has received a prestigious award from the European Research Council: the ERC Advanced Grant is endowed with 2.5 million euros. Frank Würthner, head of the Chair of Organic Chemistry II and the Center for Nanosystems Chemistry at the University of Würzburg, is pursuing an ambitious goal: he wants to synthesise schwarzites, novel carbon-based nanomaterials with unique...
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10. July 2025

SolTech showcases its research activities at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

On 3 July 2025, SolTech organised an information stand and engaged with participants of the famous Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, an event initiated by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (StMWK). This year’s thematic focus – Chemistry – provided an excellent opportunity for SolTech to interact with Nobel Laureates and approximately 600 international early-career scientists from around the world. SolTech was very...
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Latest Press Releases

14. July 2025

Another ERC Advanced Grant for Frank Würthner

For the second time, Würzburg chemistry professor Frank Würthner has received a prestigious award from the European Research Council: the ERC Advanced Grant is endowed with 2.5 million euros. Frank Würthner, head of the Chair of Organic Chemistry II and the Center for Nanosystems Chemistry at the University of Würzburg, is pursuing an ambitious goal: he wants to synthesise schwarzites, novel carbon-based nanomaterials with unique...
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17. March 2025

Künstliche Photosynthese: Forscher ahmen Pflanzen nach

Mit künstlicher Photosynthese könnte die Menschheit die Sonnenenergie nutzen, um Kohlendioxid zu binden und Wasserstoff zu produzieren. Würzburger Chemiker sind hier einen Schritt weitergekommen. So sieht der in Würzburg synthetisierte Viererstapel aus Farbstoffen aus. Er bedeutet einen weiteren Schritt hin zur künstlichen Photosynthese, weil er Lichtenergie absorbiert und sie im Stapel schnell und effizient weiterleitet. (Bild: Leander Ernst / Universität Würzburg) Die Photosynthese ist ein...
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25. April 2023

Fortschritt für den Klimaschutz: Weitere 1,7 Millionen Euro für Forschungsprogramm zu erneuerbaren Energien

Das Forschungsprogramm „Solar Technologies go Hybrid“ wird mit 1,7 Millionen Euro weiterhin vom Freistaat Bayern gefördert. Insgesamt wurde es bisher mit 70 Millionen Euro gefördert. Nun geht es darum, aus Kohlendioxid synthetische Brennstoffe zu erzeugen. Laut Wissenschaftsminister Blume sind Investitionen in Fortschritt die beste Klimaschutz-Strategie. Um zu dem kompletten Artikel des Bayerischen Staatsministeriums für Wissenschaft und Kunst zu gelangen, klicken Sie bitte hier. Wasserstoff gewinnen,...
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Latest Events

18. July 2025

SolTech Student Board Meeting 2025 in Bayreuth

This year, the KeyLab at the University of Bayreuth was responsible for organizing the annual meeting of the student board within the Bavarian research network "Solar Technologies Go Hybrid". The meeting took place on May 22nd and 23rd, 2025, and welcomed a diverse and international group of young researchers from all five KeyLabs to this event. The program began with visits to several research facilities...
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3. July 2024

Registration open: 13th SolTech Conference 2024 in Nürnberg (25 – 27 Sept. 2024)

Registration for the 13th SolTech Conference 2024 in Nuremberg is now open. Further information and the registration can be found on the conference website.

23. May 2024

SolTech Student Board Meeting (May 16-17 2024)

The SolTech Student Board convened on May 16-17 for a series of educational visits and meetings aimed at exploring cutting-edge technologies and research facilities. The itinerary included site visits to Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, various laboratories at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), a cultural visit to the Erlangen Bergkirchweih festival, as well as a tour of Bosch's fuel cell power module facility in Bamberg. The day began with...
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