Photovoltaics have received increasing attention in the last decade from the research community as well as industry. The PV market has grown at compound annual rates of 20-40%, and new technologies such as thin films based on CdTe and Cu(In,Ge)Se2 have taken a hold in the market. Tremendous research and development innovation in photovoltaics is occurring around the world. Symposium C, 'Advanced Materials Processing for Scalable Solar-Cell Manufacturing', at the 2011 MRS Spring Meeting held April 25−29 in San Francisco, California, provided a forum for exploring advanced materials processing for manufacturing of solar photovoltaics, with new research highlighted by academia and industry (start-ups and large companies) alike.