"The overall objective of this project is the creation of an ITN network for the structured interdisciplinary training of researchers in advanced thin film photovoltaic (PV) technologies.The project proposes the development of new technologies compatible with the cost, efficiency, sustainability and mass production requirements that are needed to become areliable and future alternative to conventional non renewable energy sources. With this objective in mind, the project will focus on the development of kesterite based solar cells.Kesterites are quaternary compounds with a crystalline structure very similar to that of chalcopyrites (CIGS: Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2). They have a strong potential for thin film low costPV technologies, related to their direct bandgap and high optical absorption. In contrast with CIGS -where the potential for high mass production is compromised bythe scarcity of In- they are constituted by abundant elements.For this, a consortium formed by research institutes, universities and companies with strongly complementary expertises has been formed. This includes groups that are leaderson the development of kesterite cells (Univ. Northumbria, HZB, Univ. Luxembourg) with groups with strong expertise on CIGS technologies (that are the parent technologies forkesterite solar cells) (EMPA, UU-ASC, NEXCIS, IREC, Free Univ. Berlin, Univ. d'Aix-Marseille, Autonomous Univ. Madrid). Free Univ. Berlin has also significant experience in thecrystalline analysis of kesterites. Involvement of private companies (NEXCIS, Abengoa) devoted to the production and exploitation of PV technologies provides with complementary training aspects related to transferability of processes to industrial production and exploitation issues. All these aspects are relevant for the definition of astructured interdisciplinary training programme for the formation of high level researchers that will be required in Europe for the development of competitive PV technologies."