Semiconductor Power Devices as Key Technology for a Future Sustainable Society

Power Electronics is a key technology for sustainable traffic, for efficient information technology, for renewable energy supply, for automatization and for energy efficiency. It is the interface between computing and action. Long-time technical trends to an "intelligent electrified society" give the expectation for a high growth of more than a factor of ten in the next two decades. Wide bandgap devices compete with silicon devices with the IGBT as key element. A large progress with the Si based IGBT is still possible. There is no replacement to be expected; it is more likely that a strong growth in all fields with space for even new technologies will take place. Packaging, reliability and system integration are essential features.