George Papafotiou

George Papafotiou is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, and the Head of the Power Electronics Lab. He is working on using computational intelligence to make power electronics systems more available. Computational intelligence, specifically Model Predictive Control (MPC), and its application in the microsecond time-scales encountered in power electronics systems has been the main thread throughout his career.

Before joining TU/e, Papafotiou worked in various functions at ABB for 15 years. He started as a Scientist in the Swiss Lab of ABB Corporate Research, where he was the main advocate for using computational intelligence for the more efficient and robust dynamic operation of energy management systems. He then led the Power Electronics Systems research group at the same institution, with a research portfolio comprising power electronics for renewables, ultra-high-efficiency power conversion, and dynamic optimization and control.

As Global R&D Manager for SW and Control HW at ABB Medium Voltage Drives, Papafotiou took a leading role in productizing the first comprehensive MPC-based control platform for induction motor drives. Finally, as Global Quality and Customer Experience Manager for ABB’s System Drives Division, he worked on data-driven techniques to improve product quality and reliability for industrial motor drives.

Advanced Power Electronic systems have a key role in the expansion of electrification in our daily lives. But their reliable, uninterrupted operation will be the big bet - a ticket to play for our transition to a carbon-free future.