ECPE - The Industrial and Research Network for Power Electronics in Europe

ECPE European Center for Power Electronics is an Industrial and Research Network for Power Electronics in Europe with focus on research, education and advanced training as well as on public relations for power electronics. ECPE is driving precompetitive joint research in power electronics financed from an industrial research fund. Three Demonstrator Programs have been started in 2003/2004 involving leading Competence Centers in Europe. The paper gives an overview and presents first results from the ECPE Demonstrator Programs - System Integrated Drive for Hybrid Traction in Automotive, - Industrial Drives - System Integration, - Power Supplies with Ultra-High Power Density. Furthermore, ECPE has started a European initiative of academia and industry to jointly develop power electronics research and technology roadmaps. Our vision is that these longterm research roadmaps (up to 2020) will become a guideline for power electronic research directed by universities and research centers, provide an orientation for public research programs and help industry to prepare for upcoming technology steps.