Japanese industry currently dominates the photovoltaics (PV) market. According to the New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO), shipments of global photovoltaic (PV) modules grew to approximately 744MW in 2003, (an increase of ～32% compared with 2002) of which Japan produced almost 50% (364MW). Further, the global installed capacity grew to ～1810 MW in 2003, of which half (860 MW) was installed in Japan. Germany is increasingly being viewed by the Japanese PV community as their main market and also perhaps the country where their main competitors may emerge in the future. But what does the future hold for PV research and development in Asia? How long can Japan maintain its dominance in the face of potential competition from South Korea in the short term and China in the long stretch? This outline sheds some light on these issues.
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