Jaione Bengoechea

Dr. Jaione Bengoechea Apezteguia, has more than 25 years of experience in research and development projects mainly related to materials science and photovoltaics. She is currently head of Photo-Electric and Photovoltaic Innovation and Technological Development Area, at the National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain (CENER).

She received her M.Sc. in Physics in 1998 from the University of Zaragoza (Spain) and her PhD in Physics (with honors) in 2006 from the Basque Country University (Spain). She was a pre-doctoral Marie Curie Fellow for one year at the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology in Dublin City University (Ireland). From 2005 to 2008, she was a researcher at the Light Generation Group of Royal Philips Electronics, in Aachen (Germany). Since November 2008, she belongs to the scientific staff of the Solar Technology and Storage Department, in CENER.

Currently responsible for defining the photovoltaic innovation strategy and management of projects, has spearheaded several private and public projects from concept to development, including liaison between staff and clients during the project cycle and assuring project milestones, and quality control of deliverables and dates. Responsible for the establishment of relationships and collaborations with international companies and organizations. Since 2008 she has participated in more than 25 public and private projects in the field of photovoltaic materials value chain, manufacturing and lately, recycling. She has managed 12 of them, including the assurance of the quality of the delivered service and liaison with clients adapted to heterogeneous profiles. Author of 17 scientific articles, 9 patents and more than 20 contributions at international conferences, she currently represents Spain in the PVPS (Photovoltaic Power System Programme) Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency (IEA), and is a member of EERA-PV.