Congratulations to Professor Bantval Jayant Baliga of North Carolina State University, the Winner of the 2024 Millennium Technology Prize! This award celebrates Professor Baliga’s incredible contribution through his invention, development, and commercialization of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). Since the 1980s, his innovation has been pivotal in reducing worldwide energy and petrol consumption, setting the stage for a greener, more sustainable future.
For me, this isn’t just an innovation; it’s a reminder of why I do what I do. Early in my career, fresh from my PhD in electric motors and drives, I dove into software development for inverters. Seeing the incredible energy savings made possible by IGBT-powered systems was inspiring — it made technology's role in a sustainable future tangible.
Today, while my focus has shifted to product leadership, IGBTs remain essential to everything from EVs to advanced maritime systems, where they help make vessels cleaner and more efficient. I see it as a full-circle moment: from my early days optimizing energy use to now driving innovative products that impact real-world sustainability. That’s the kind of legacy I aim to contribute to — solutions that make a difference.
Congratulations once again to Professor Baliga for a truly transformative invention that continues to inspire the journey toward a sustainable future. Here’s to technologies that make the world a better place! Do you agree?
https://lnkd.in/dVkSinJW
COO @ Huntrs
2moInnovation is the backbone of society.