Konarka Names Vice President of Materials Development

Alessandro Zedda Brings Polymer Materials Leadership to Konarka

Lowell, Mass. - Sept. 22, 2009 - Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Konarka Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, today announced that Alessandro Zedda has joined the company as vice president of materials development. He will lead Konarka’s materials and device research and partnerships in developing higher performing organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules.

“Alessandro is an expert innovation leader and will bring his proven leadership skills to Konarka,” commented Rick Hess, president and CEO at Konarka. “His international experience in managing research and development teams in organic and polymer synthesis, in materials testing as well as characterization of printed and organic electronics devices makes him a valuable asset to Konarka.”

For the past decade, Alessandro has worked in various roles at Ciba Basel, a global producer of high-value effects for a wide range of products and now part of BASF. Most recently, he was head of the company’s business printed electronics responsible for the research and development of printable semiconductor materials based on proprietary low band-gap conjugated polymers and other applications. He also served as the global head of the company’s Technology Center Electronic Materials and head of the Polymer Surface Modification Group. He started his career as a scientist at the Advanced Fluorine Chemistry Research at Ausimont in Milan, Italy and holds 30 patents and publications worldwide.

“Konarka has a team of world-class experts, industry-leading technology and an outstanding patent portfolio,” commented Alessandro Zedda. “Across the renewable energy market, Konarka is best positioned to make OPV a commercial success, and I am delighted to join the organization to help deliver Konarka Power Plastic as the cost-competitive solar electricity solution to the world.”

Alessandro will be available at the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, September 21-24, 2009 at the CCH Congress Centre and International Fair in Hamburg, Germany, Konarka booth # B5/71. For more information on the event, visit: http://www.photovoltaic-conference.com/.

About Konarka Technologies, Inc.
Konarka develops and manufactures solar plastic films that convert light to energy – anywhere. As the leading developer of polymer-based, organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology that provides a source of renewable power in a variety of form factors, Konarka has a broad portfolio of patents, technology licenses and an accomplished technical, scientific and manufacturing team. Manufactured at low cost and low energy consumption, the company's Konarka Power Plastic® technology is lightweight, flexible, scalable and adaptable for use in a variety of commercial, industrial, government and consumer applications. Konarka Technologies is headquartered in Lowell, Mass., U.S.A. and has a full scale production manufacturing facility in New Bedford, Mass. U.S.A., with European headquarters in Nurnberg, Germany, business development offices in Asia and a research and development facility in Austria. For additional information, visit http://www.konarka.com. 

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