China nips at Japan's heels in patents for bendable solar panels

Recent applications from China nearly quadruple that of longtime leader

20231128N bendable solar cell KYODO

Film for bendable perovskite solar cells is made at a Sekisui Chemical plant. © Kyodo

TAKURO KUSASHIO and KENTO FUKUI, Nikkei staff writers

OSAKA/TOKYO -- China has been submitting applications for next-generation bendable perovskite solar cells at a feverish pace in recent years, rapidly catching up to longtime overall leader Japan, according to a study.

Japan is the global leader in total patent filings in this field over the past 20 years, but both China and South Korea have surpassed Japan in yearly applications since 2020. 

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