為了確保歐洲光伏行業在未來的競爭力，歐洲光伏工業協會（EPIA）要從歐盟籌集12.35億歐元的資金來支援未來三年的光伏業各種方案，EPIA說60%的資金由光伏行業提供，其余數額由歐洲委員會和歐盟成員國來提供，目前已有16個成員國承諾要出資支持光伏行業。
    EPIA希望借助本周在馬德里召開的SET會議來呼吁支持歐洲光伏行業的倡議（簡稱SEII）。

    SEII倡議的目的是優化光伏生產的流程，降低成本，改善電網和光伏系統的接口。
    該倡議的其他部分，包括發展建筑集成光伏系統（BIPU）的產品和應用，使安裝更加地便宜簡單，另一個重要目的是展示CPV--集中太陽能發電技術，還有一個長期的基礎工作就是，使有機太陽能電池和智能模塊的開發更加容易網絡集成化。

    EPIA的副總裁Virgilio Navarro說，前年價格下跌50%，而去年價格只下跌40%，這一點充分說明，光伏行業要想規模生產仍需要政策支持。
    據說，利用這筆資金支持的光伏發電技術，到2020年能提供歐盟所需電力的12%。
As part of a plan to ensure the future competitiveness of the European-based PV industry, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) is pushing ahead with efforts to coordinate the collection of ?.235 billion in R&D funding with support from the EU. The funds would be used to support various programs over the next three years. The EPIA said that almost 60% of the required funding would be provided by the industry whereas the remaining amount would need to be provided by the European Commission and EU Member States. Sixteen Member States have expressed their commitment to support the PV industry, according to the trade association.

The EPIA wants to use the European SET Plan Conference, being held this week in Madrid under the current Spanish EU Presidency to urge support of the Solar Europe Industry Initiative (SEII).

The SEII is designed to enable the optimization of PV production processes that are aimed at cost reduction as well as improving the interface between the electricity grid and PV systems.

Other parts of the initiative include further development of Building Integrated PV (BIPV) products and applications that make installation cheaper and easier. Also targeted is CPV technology with an emphasis still on demonstrating its capabilities in the field. On a longer-term basis work is needed on organic solar cells and smart module development for easier network integration.

“R&D is not sufficient alone and has no impact on competitiveness if it is not accompanied by an increase in volumes and market development. The 40% price decrease in 2009 and 50% in the last two years confirm that political support is still needed to reach economies of scale by increasing production.” noted Virgilio Navarro, Vice President of EPIA and CEO of ATERSA.

The funding support is said to needed to be able to supply 12% of the EU demand for electricity by 2020, using PV technologies.