Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Bo Pedersen received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (TUD) in 1992.  From 1992 to 1995, he was Project Manager at NKT Research Center, Glostrup, Denmark, managing a research group working on integrated optic.  In 1995, he joined AT&T Submarine Systems (Later Tyco Submarine Systems) in Holmdel NJ, USA, where he became the Director of next generation technology and systems. In 2000, Dr. Pedersen became the Founder and CTO of Dorsal Networks, a venture-backed fiber-optic systems company, in Maryland, USA.  This company was sold to the Corvis Corporation in 2002, and Dr. Pedersen continued to run his division as well as obtaining the honorary title of Executive Engineer to Corvis.  Dr. Pedersen joined Sol Voltaics AB as CEO in 2005.  He is also on the Advisory Board to the COM center at DTU.

Email: bo.pedersen(at)solvoltaics.com

Chief Scientific Officer, Co-Founder and Director

Lars Samuelson, currently Professor of Solid State Physics at Lund University, is internationally recognised for his breakthrough research on low-dimensional structures and the physics and applications made possible by these structures. In recent years, his research has been directed towards new ways for the formation of ideal one-dimensional heterostructured nanowires through self-assembly, their physical properties, and applications of semiconductor nanowires in electronics, photonics and the life-sciences.

Dr. Samuelson is the director of the Nanometer Structure Consortium, started in 1988, which is today the primary center for nanoscience in Sweden. He is the scientific leader of two Strategic Research Centers funded by the Swedish Foundation of Strategic Research (SSF): one in the field of Microelectronics (2003-2008), called “Nanoscience for Future Electronic Devices”, and a Strategic Research Center called “Nanowires for emerging nanoelectronics and life-science applications”. Samuelson is also the leader of a major European R&D project called NODE (“Nanowire-based One Dimensional Electronics”), with participation by leading European electronics industries, research institutes and academic research teams.

Dr. Martin Magnusson received his PhD in Solid State Physics from Lund University in 2001. He subsequently coordinated the startup of Pronano AB, a nanotechnology institute associated with the Nanometer Structure Consortium at Lund University. Dr. Magnusson and his co-workers at Pronano engaged heavily in industrial consultancy as well as nanotechnology information and outreach, through lectures, seminars, workshops, and public exhibitions. In 2005, he again joined Lund University as Liaison Scientist in solid state physics, responsible for industrial contacts and innovation management in nanotechnology. Dr. Magnusson joined Sol Voltaics AB in 2007, as project leader of the company’s photovoltaics R&D effort.

Email: martin.magnusson(at)solvoltaics.com

Executive Chairman

G. Russell Mortenson brings over 20 years of experience as a senior executive in technology companies developed from start-ups, many of which have been Nordic-based.  He has organized technology collaborations and joint ventures with some of the premiere companies in the world, including General Electric, Motorola, Alcatel, ABB, Mitsubishi, Siemens and others and also served as Chairman & CEO of a publicly-traded NASDAQ technology company for several years. He presently serves as Chairman of ASMS Holding AB and as an observer to the board of CommerceGuard AB, a joint venture of General Electric, Siemens and Mitsubishi Corporation. He is also senior advisor to Provider Venture, a leading Swedish venture capital firm. Mr. Mortenson holds the J.D. cum laude from the Harvard Law School and M.S. and B.S. degrees in finance and business administration from Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming, respectively.

Email: russ.mortenson(at)solvoltaics.com 

Director

Dr. Alf Bjørseth earned his Doctorate degree in physical chemistry from the University of Oslo, Norway, in 1979.  He started his professional career as an associated professor at the Universities of Oslo and Bergen and subsequently worked for contract research organizations in Norway (SI – today SINTEF) and in the US (Battelle Labs).  Dr. Bjørseth then moved into industrial research and worked in the capacity of Corporate Director for Research within Norsk Hydro and Director of Technology for Elkem.

In 1994, Dr. Bjørseth set up ScanWafer, a company within the global solar industry that specialised in the production of multi-crystalline silicon wafers. He later established a further three companies related to solar cell and module production, as well as a solar module installation company. He thereafter merged these companies into one holding company known as Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), of which Dr. Bjørseth served as President from the onset.  Today REC is one of the largest solar energy companies in the world.

In 2005, Dr. Bjørseth retired as President of REC. He is now running his private company Scatec AS, and establishing new companies based on the latest technologies in the areas of renewable energy and advanced materials.

Dr. Bjørseth is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and The Norwegian Academy of Technical Sciences, and has been honoured as Commander of The Royal Order of St. Olav.

He joined the Sol Voltaics AB board of directors in July 2008.