G24 Innovations

May 17 2008 by Sion Barry, Western Mail

Location: Wentloog Environmental Centre, Cardiff.

What does the company do? G24i is the first company in the world to manufacture dye sensitised thin film solar cells, a uniquely thin and flexible solar technology. The solar cells are rugged and work in real world conditions (low and ambient light), making solar technology viable in new applications and geographies around the globe. The first applications for G24i’s technology are in mobile power.

How much do you invest annually in research & development as a percentage of turnover? 20%.

What percentage of your workforce is involved in R&D? 33%.

What percentage of your net assets can be linked to historical R&D expenditure? 100%.

Do you think the Government is doing enough to encourage more R&D activity? It was not part of G24i’s core business strategy to locate its headquarters in a place that offers significant subsidies. Nonetheless, we are grateful for the support with R&D tax credits and for the support from Cardiff council in helping to advance our wind turbine project.

How many products or services do you have in development? In excess of 30 products.

How many new products/services do you plan to bring to market over the next year? 20 products.

How many patents do you have in operation? We have over 20 current patents and over 25 patent applications pending approval.

What methods do you use to bring your products to market? Currently we are marketing our mobile phone chargers through mobile phone distributors and OEMs (original equipment manufacturer). We are also looking to market our products directly to consumers within the coming months.