Nobel Laureate Arno Penzias Becomes Konarka Director, Scientific Advisor

Company will leverage Dr. Penzias’ extensive technical knowledge and keen business acumen as it moves closer to commercialization of its photovoltaic nanotechnology

Lowell, Mass. – August 4, 2004 – Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in developing and manufacturing breakthrough products that convert light to energy, today announced distinguished scientist and venture capitalist Dr. Arno Penzias is joining its Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Council. He will offer insight and advice to Konarka’s senior executive team, helping to set the direction of Konarka’s research and product development efforts and its strategic technology and intellectual property plans.

According to Dr. Penzias, he works with companies that meet three principal criteria: market need, management leadership and technological excellence. He said, “Everyone agrees that there’s a huge need for energy, but you also need the kind of quality team and uniquely superior technology that Konarka possesses. I can’t imagine a more challenging scientific problem than solving the world’s energy needs, so I’m excited to contribute to one of the most promising opportunities in this field.”

“It’s not often an early stage company can boast of so many top researchers helping to set its scientific agenda like we can, and Arno is another terrific addition to our world-class team,” said Dr. Alan Heeger, Konarka’s founding scientist and a board member, who is a 2000 Nobel Prize winner for chemistry. “He has a great grasp on how we can apply our photovoltaic nanotechnology and what we need to do to extend our R&D success to commercial products.”

Konarka’s Chairman and CEO Howard Berke added, “Arno brings such a wealth of knowledge – from his years as the head of the world’s most prestigious corporate research facility to his work cultivating start-ups and aligning their management practices with their technical capacities – we’re thrilled he has chosen to share his expertise with the Konarka team. His guidance will be invaluable as we grow into a full-scale manufacturer of low-cost renewable energy generation products.”

Dr. Penzias is a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), the lead investor in Konarka’s Series C round of financing. At NEA, he seeks out promising technology futures and catalyzes their applications. Dr. Penzias joined NEA from Bell Laboratories, where he led its research organization and served as chief scientist. As a scientist, he is best known for his work in radio astronomy—most notably, the discovery of Cosmic Background Radiation, which earned him and Robert Wilson the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1978—as well as his pioneering work in the detection and study of a rich variety of interstellar molecules thought to be a possible basis for the development of life.

He has written two books and a number of articles on information technology, especially its impact on business and society. A member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from City College of New York and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Columbia University. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his contributions to science, R&D management and public service.

About Konarka Technologies, Inc.
Konarka builds products that convert light to energy – anywhere. Konarka is the leading developer of polymer photovoltaic products that provide a source of renewable power in a variety of form factors for commercial, industrial, government and consumer applications. Konarka’s photovoltaic nanotechnology is focused on delivering lightweight, flexible, scalable and manufacturable products. Konarka has a broad portfolio of patents, technology licenses and an accomplished technical team. Nobel Laureate Professor Alan Heeger (UC Santa Barbara) is a chief scientist for Konarka, and Dr. Michael Grätzel (Ecole Polytechnic Fédérale de Lausanne) is a senior scientific advisor. Konarka Technologies is headquartered in Lowell, Mass., U.S.A., and has subsidiaries in Austria and Switzerland. For more information, visit http://www.konarka.com or contact Tracy Wemett, BroadPR, at 617-868-5031 or .