The European PhD School in Gaeta 2026

This year’s ECPE PhD School was again a resounding success with 110 participants. Alongside six high-calibre keynote speeches and eight specialist presentations, the focus was on intensive dialogue between academia and industry – supported by leading sponsors such as ABB, Huawei and Rohde & Schwarz. A particular highlight was the presentation of the PhD School Award to Thomas Kreppel (University of the German Armed Forces, Munich) for his pioneering work in the field of MMC power plants.

Academia meets industry 

This year’s ECPE PhD School has impressively demonstrated just how vibrant and international the exchange of ideas in the field of power electronics is. A total of 110 participants came together to discuss the latest trends, technologies and research findings. Particularly encouraging: the participants included 87 students and PhD candidates from 25 different countries underlining the global nature of the event. The event also set a positive example in terms of diversity: 15 female PhD candidates accounted for around 17 per cent of the total participants – a strong signal of the growing number of women in cutting-edge research. The packed programme offered participants in-depth technical insights: In six keynote speeches and eight lectures, leading experts spoke on current challenges facing the industry. The event was complemented by an accompanying exhibition. Renowned sponsors and exhibitors such as ABB, Rohde & Schwarz, Huawei, Typhoon HIL, as well as the IEEE, Electra, Plexim and the ECPE itself, used the platform to connect with up-and-coming talent and showcase innovative solutions.

European PhD School

PhD School Award Presented

A traditional highlight of the event is the presentation of the sought-after PhD School Award. This year, Thomas Kreppel from the University of the German Armed Forces in Munich (Germany) was delighted to receive the award. He impressed the jury with his outstanding work on the topic: ‘Fault-Tolerant Operation of MMC Power Stations with Regard to the External Grid Condition’

His research makes an important contribution to the stability and reliability of future energy grids. The poster detailing his work, as well as photos from the awards ceremony on 25 May, are now available online.
We warmly congratulate Thomas Kreppel on this achievement and would like to thank all participants, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors for an inspiring event!
 

European PhD School Award