NEDO has chosen the implementers for its special perovskite solar cell training course: a research association called RATO and the University of Tokyo's advanced science institute. The agency announced the selection on 6 October 2026.
Budget and term
NEDO set the budget at up to ¥20mn for the current fiscal year. The term runs up to four years, from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2029, though the initial period is only the two years to fiscal 2027. The ¥20mn is a one-year ceiling, not a four-year commitment.
Who does what
RATO counts about 40 member companies, among them major perovskite cell makers and firms in materials, equipment and measurement technology. It will work with the University of Tokyo institute, which has a record in basic perovskite research. Both are NEDO contractors.
The course has four tracks:
- A technical course, taught by working engineers, for people in materials, equipment and installation.
- A basic-science course, taught by university specialists, covering photochemistry, materials engineering and measurement.
- A hands-on course for experts, including device-fabrication practice.
- A course tracking technology trends, since cell performance is improving quickly.
The targets are corporate engineers and graduate students aiming to enter the field.
The bottleneck
NEDO says people able to carry perovskite cells from research through mass production to deployment are in short supply. It describes the gap between university research and company production as a constraint on commercialisation. The project overview cites the 7th Energy Basic Plan's goal of 20GW of perovskite cells by 2040. That is a deployment target, not capacity this course creates.
NEDO's materials give no enrolment figures or fees. Recruitment details will be announced on its website once decided.