The University of Michigan has joined with the South Korean government, a South Korean university and a New Jersey company for a four-year effort to improve the efficiency of solar cell films.

The project also Danbrook University near Seoul, and Global Photonic Energy Corp. of Medford Lakes, N.J.

University of Michigan research Vice President Stephen Forrest says the goal is to raise the efficiency of organic photovoltaic technology and reduce its cost.

In a statement, Michigan says that flexible and very thin organic photovoltaic films "will enable large-scale solar energy generation directly integrated into roofs, walls, building materials and ... windows."