Dr. Sukant K. Tripathy

The late Dr. Sukant K. Tripathy, one of Konarka’s founding scientists, was an internationally renowned research chemist, professor and founder of UMASS Lowell’s Institute for NanoScience Engineering and Technology.

Konarka Technologies was founded in 2001 by a team of scientists at UMass Lowell, led by the late Dr. Sukant Tripathy, an internationally known materials scientist and professor at UMASS Lowell, Dr. Alan Heeger, a 2000 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Howard Berke, Konarka’s Executive Chairman. 

The company's impressive technical innovations have led to investments of over $150 million in private capital and $20 million in government research grants to date – as well as exciting collaborations with solar technology scientists throughout the world.

Konarka has grown rapidly since 2001.  Our staff of over 80 people worldwide includes many of the world’s top thin film photovoltaic scientists.   In 2008, Konarka introduced Power Plastic to the commercial market. In 2009, we opened our large-scale manufacturing plant in New Bedford, Massachusetts and introduced seven standard panels suitable for microelectronics, portable power and remote power applications.

For a complete history of Konarka’s growth and development, click for our:

Recent Milestones        Financial Milestones        All Company Milestones

The Founders’ Breakthrough Discovery

Dr. Tripathy’s team at UMASS Lowell, together with Molecular Technologies’ team - Dr. Srini Balasubramanian, Dr. Kethinni Chittibabu, and Dr. Lian Li - initially developed advanced photovoltaic technology for soldiers under the coordination and support of the U.S. Army's Natick, Massachusetts Laboratory. The team discovered a way to process photovoltaic materials  at relatively low temperatures. This discovery enabled - for the first time - the use of low-cost polymers as the top and bottom surfaces of the photovoltaic cell. It also enabled the photovoltaic cells to be manufactured at high speed using coating and printing technologies.

Konarka’s plastic-based photovoltaic cells are efficient across a much broader spectrum of light than traditional solar cells, allowing them to be used effectively indoors and outdoors.

The Konarka Temple

The Konarka Temple in Orissa, India is the pinnacle of Hindu architecture and a priceless gem of Orissan art. Built in the 13th Century, it displays a chariot of the sun with seven horses, one for each day of the week, and twelve pairs of wheels, one for each month. It is considered an engineering wonder and one of the finest monuments of religious architecture in the world.

The Konarka Temple is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya.  Konarka’s mission is to harness the sun god’s promise and empower people throughout the world - including the millions of Indian poor who still lack even the most basic household electric devices.

Recent Milestones

Financial Milestones

All Company Milestones