Greentech Media

Noted U.S. researchers Miguel Contreras, senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratories, left, Chris Eberspacher, senior director of technology development for Applied Materials' solar group (previously head of technology at thin-film startup Nanosolar), and Tim Weidman, distinguished member of the technical staff at Applied Materials, chat it up in Milan.

Steffen Schwarzer, left, Olaf Tober, David Fletcher, Kerstin Gnoerrlich and Korinna Penndorf, all of Odersun, a German manufacturer of solar bags and chargers, brave the sun's glare to pose for a picture.

Dutch optical-media specialists Jadranko Dovic, CEO of VDL ODMS, left, and Ard Romers, business-development manager for VCL Enabling Technologies Group, hang out with fellow countryman Klaus Schiffer, regional sales manager for OTB Solar, which makes solar-cell-manufacturing equipment.

A group of professors and graduate students from the Instituto de Tecnologia Microelectronica in Bilbao, Spain, say they're enjoying the conference - and the beer. All together, the group gave one oral and four visual presentations about its research into new solar technologies.

Thomas Wedde, left, Bernd Engel, Michael Wollny, Jens Krug and Tobias Henne, all of SMA Technologie in Germany, the world's largest solar-inverter manufacturer, spend more time with their colleagues after the exhibit hall is shut.

Solar-industry insiders mix business and pleasure as the sun sets over the Fiero Milano Rho conference center in Milan.