PI Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (178920), a Korean polyimide (PI) manufacturer with the largest global market share and an Arkema (ISIN: FR0010313833) affiliate, announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Flexell Space, a space and satellite solar cell developer, to jointly research and develop next-generation solar power technologies for spacecraft applications.
The agreement was formalized on October 29 at Flexell Space’s headquarters, with representatives from both companies in attendance. Under the partnership, the two companies will collaborate on developing ultra-lightweight, high-heat-resistant, and high-reliability solar cells for satellites, leveraging PI Advanced Materials’ polyimide expertise and Flexell Space’s engineering capabilities in next-generation photovoltaic design.
PI Advanced Materials’ Zenimid™ polyimide film—optimized for extreme thermal and radiation environments in space—is already planned for deployment. Flexell Space is set to apply Zenimid™ in solar cells that will be mounted on a CubeSat scheduled to launch aboard the upcoming fourth flight of the Korean Nuri (KSLV-II) launch vehicle in November.
Flexell Space, originally spun out of Hanwha Systems as an in-house venture, is a New Space startup focused on lightweight, high-efficiency space solar cells. The company is currently collaborating with major global satellite manufacturers, including Airbus (Germany), Thales Alenia Space (France), and Reflex Aerospace (Germany).
The partnership is expected to strengthen Korea’s strategic independence in satellite materials—a sector that has traditionally relied heavily on imported components—and enhance supply-chain resilience for the domestic aerospace industry.
“Polyimide was originally developed for aerospace applications and offers exceptional heat resistance and stability even in extreme conditions,” said Shin Dong-yoon, CTO of PI Advanced Materials. “Through this collaboration, we aim to secure Korea’s next-generation materials and solar cell technologies for satellite systems and create new growth opportunities in the global space industry.”
“PI is an indispensable material for developing next-generation PVSK (perovskite) and CIGS solar cells for space use,” added Noh Shin-young, CTO of Flexell Space. “By using materials developed and manufactured domestically, we will contribute to building a self-reliant and sustainable space ecosystem in Korea.”
PI Advanced Materials is expanding its portfolio into the space and satellite materials sector, leveraging decades of PI technology accumulated across display, semiconductor, and electric vehicle applications. The company expects this collaboration to accelerate domestic space material innovation while advancing Korea’s presence in the rapidly growing global space market.