LONGi, a global leader in solar technology, has established its Global BC Ecosystem Collaborative Innovation Center in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. The center was launched on August 2, 2025, during the BC Eco-Innovation Summit, with the primary goal of accelerating the industrialization of Back Contact (BC) solar technology.
The initiative marks a significant step in fostering industry collaboration, with LONGi welcoming Laplace New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Shaanxi Xingbei New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., and Jiangyin Haida New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. as key members of its "Pathfinder Alliance Program." These partners will engage in joint research and development to promote innovation within the BC ecosystem. LONGi's Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Li Zhenguo, highlighted the importance of an open and collaborative BC innovation ecosystem, stating, "We need to establish an open and sharing BC innovation ecosystem characterized by collaborative advancement, accelerating technology integration and commercialization to unleash the full innovative potential within the ecosystem." This collaborative approach is considered crucial for overcoming the engineering challenges associated with BC technology and facilitating its widespread adoption.
BC technology is recognized for its potential to enhance conversion efficiency and performance in solar energy. It requires a holistic approach that integrates cross-value-chain collaboration and synergy between industry, academia, and research institutions. LONGi has been actively cultivating this ecosystem, establishing dedicated organizations, end-to-end processes, and a robust benefit-sharing mechanism. As of May 2025, LONGi had already engaged with 191 global ecosystem partners, securing 55 cooperation agreements with 44 entities, and completing strategic technology deployments across seven key fields, including wafers, cells, modules, and hydrogen. The company's investment in R&D, with RMB 7.721 billion allocated in 2023, underscores its commitment to technological leadership. BC technology, which moves all electrical contacts to the rear of the solar cells, eliminates front-side shading, thereby maximizing sunlight absorption and boosting power generation. Projections indicate that BC cell market share could exceed 30% by 2028, with experts like Professor Martin Green predicting that Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) technology will gradually supplant TOPCon technology within the next five years.