What is it? The action of the POR project presented here provides support for investments and research and innovation activities of SMEs and in particular the consolidation of innovative start-ups. 9-Tech, as such, used this benefit for research expenses incurred as part of the study on the recycling of photovoltaic panels. The objectives The “New technologies for the recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic panels” (NTR) project began in January 2024, will end in March 2025 and aims to further improve the innovative and sustainable process for the recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic panels, already developed by the start up, increasing the IRL from 5 to 7. A photovoltaic module is made up of a glass, two encapsulating layers that incorporate the photovoltaic cells and the backsheet, which is a combined sheet of polyvinyl fluoride (Tedlar) and polyethylene terephthalate ( PET). Currently, the recycling of photovoltaic panels is very complex and existing solutions do not valorise all the materials contained. The start-up has already tested the thermomechanical recycling process on a pilot scale (the 9PV prototype), which is now in the upscaling phase (PVlighhouse plant). The POR project proposes first of all to contribute to the strengthening of the company’s intellectual property, with the deposit of new patent applications and the extension in Europe of existing patents already filed. Furthermore, the expense for the purchase of a machine to remove the backsheet will be facilitated, to be integrated into the recycling process already developed by 9-Tech, which has been studied with ENEA. The recovery of the backsheet, currently not exploited, could further improve the recovery rate of the panel materials and the quality of the recovered materials, also avoiding the production of fluorinated compounds and allowing the potential recycling of the recovered PET. The results Patent application in Europe as a priority extension of the Italian patent application no. 102023000000189 Patent application in China as priority extension of the Italian patent application no. 102023000000189 US patent application as priority extension of Italian patent application no. 102023000000189 Patent application in Italy n. 102024000002923 Patent application in Italy n. 102024000002932 Patent application in Italy n. 102024000018115