Center for Power Electronics Systems
CPES is a Virginia Tech-affiliated research and education center that conducts multi-university power electronics research and operates an industry consortium of 80+ companies, providing shared research results, faculty engagement, and intellectual property access in exchange for tiered membership fees and sponsored research funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersBlacksburg, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Center for Power Electronics Systems does
The Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) is a research and education center at Virginia Tech, founded in 1977 as the Power Electronics Research Group, renamed the Virginia Power Electronics Center in 1983, and elevated to National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center status in 1998. CPES operates a five-university consortium including Virginia Tech, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina A&T State University, and University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, with headquarters in Blacksburg, VA and a satellite laboratory at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, VA. The Center's research spans power conversion technologies, power electronics components, modeling and control, EMI and power quality, and high-density integration, with cumulative historical outputs of 171 patents awarded, 302 invention disclosures, 3,095 publications, 178 PhDs, and 191 M.S. degrees, supported by a current team of approximately 176 members and annual research expenditures of $6-10M.
CPES generates revenue through a tiered industry consortium membership model (Affiliate, Associate at $20K, Principal at $40K, Principal Plus at $60K annual fees) and sponsored research contracts. Its 78-80+ member companies span major semiconductor manufacturers (Infineon, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, GlobalFoundries), industrial OEMs (ABB, Eaton, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Hitachi Energy), automotive firms (General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Nissan), and aerospace and defense primes (Lockheed Martin, GE Aerospace). Membership benefits include automatic IP-sharing for Principal-level members, Industry Advisory Board participation, access to three mini-consortia (Power Management Consortium, High Density Integration, High Power Consortium), and engagement with faculty and graduate students.
Core technical infrastructure includes a 19,000 sq.ft. headquarters in Whittemore Hall with high-power testing capability up to 1 MW at 4,160V, an Integrated Packaging Laboratory featuring a class 10,000 cleanroom, and computer-aided design infrastructure supporting SPICE, Saber, Ansys Electromagnetics Suite, MATLAB, and PLECS. The Center's foundational technology, Integrated Power Electronics Modules (IPEM), was successfully commercialized in motor drives and microprocessor power management. Recent strategic emphasis includes power delivery research for data center and AI infrastructure, with focus on GW-level power systems, thermal management, and rapid deployment for AI computing workloads.
Center for Power Electronics Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Center for Power Electronics Systems
- Legal name
- Virginia Tech Center for Power Electronics Systems
- Website
- https://cpes.vt.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CPES is a Virginia Tech-affiliated research and education center that conducts multi-university power electronics research and operates an industry consortium of 80+ companies, providing shared research results, faculty engagement, and intellectual property access in exchange for tiered membership fees and sponsored research funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Center for Power Electronics Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Power Electronics Research Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Renewable Power Electronics & Advanced Inverters R&D (SiC/GaN, Grid-Forming, HVDC Converter Tech) (EUAMAOAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Power Electronics for Renewable & Grid-Tied Applications (Solar inverters, wind converters, grid-tie interfaces) (IMAGADAJ), Grid-Scale Power Conversion & Interconnection (PCS, Grid-Tie Inverters, Converter Stations) (IMAGAAAI), Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
Keywords
Where Center for Power Electronics Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Blacksburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Center for Power Electronics Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Industry Consortium Membership Fees: Annual membership fees at four tiers: Affiliate (in-kind donations below $20,000/year), Associate ($20,000/year), Principal ($40,000/year), and Principal Plus ($60,000/year). Members gain access to research results, faculty, students, facilities, publications, and for higher tiers, IP sharing and mini-consortium participation.
- Sponsored Research: Direct collaboration between company engineers and CPES researchers with defined technical objectives, scope, deliverables, timelines, and cost. CPES conducts diverse portfolio of sponsored research projects with industry and government partners. In 2025, CPES managed 50+ active projects totaling more than $9.5 million. Also includes government-sponsored research access for consortium members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Members - In-kind donations below $20,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Members - $20,000 annual contribution |
| Subscription | Annual | Principal Members - $40,000 annual contribution |
| Subscription | Annual | Principal Plus Members - $60,000 annual contribution |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Center for Power Electronics Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Center for Power Electronics Systems operates an industry-funded university research consortium that conducts multi-university research, education, and technology transfer in power electronics, including packaging, integration, and control of power conversion systems. It sells consortium membership, sponsored research projects, focused mini-consortia, short courses, and industry residence engagements to corporate members.
Product overview
CPES is a research and education center at Virginia Tech, not a product company. It offers a portfolio of research consortia programs (Power Management Consortium, High Density Integration, and High Power Consortium), an Industry Consortium membership program with four tiers, short courses for continuing education, and an Industry Residence Program. These programs collectively provide industry members access to shared research results, faculty expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities to influence research directions in power electronics technology spanning from grid-scale systems to on-chip power delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Industry Consortium Membership Annual paid membership that gives companies access to CPES's multi-university research program, shared facilities, research results, IP licensing rights, and graduate recruiting pipeline across the power electronics domain.
- Mini-Consortia (PMC, HDI, HPC)
- Sponsored Research Projects
- Short Courses on Power Electronics
- Industry Residence Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 171 patents awarded and 302 invention disclosures filed over center history
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Center for Power Electronics Systems
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Center for Power Electronics Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Center for Power Electronics Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ABB, Inc.corePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. ABB collaborates with CPES on power electronics research and development for grid and industrial applications.
- Analog DevicescorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Analog Devices partners with CPES for semiconductor and power management research.
- Delta ElectronicscorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Delta Electronics collaborates on power supply and components research.
- EatoncorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Eaton partners with CPES for electrical, hydraulic, and aerospace power electronics solutions.
- GE AerospacecorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. GE Aerospace collaborates with CPES on aviation power electronics systems.
- GE VernovacorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. GE Vernova partners on energy generation and distribution systems research.
- Hitachi EnergycorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Hitachi Energy collaborates on grid-scale power electronics and HVDC transmission research.
- Infineon TechnologiescorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Infineon partners on power semiconductor solutions and wide bandgap technology research.
- Lockheed Martin CorporationcorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Lockheed Martin collaborates on defense and aerospace electronics systems.
- Texas InstrumentscorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Texas Instruments partners on analog and embedded processing power solutions.
- Schneider ElectriccorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Schneider Electric collaborates on energy management and automation systems.
- Siemens Corporate TechnologycorePrincipal Plus member of CPES Industry Consortium. Siemens partners on industrial automation and power systems research.
- National Science FoundationcoreCPES was established as an NSF Engineering Research Center (NSF ERC) in 1998. The center continues to receive NSF funding and conducts government-sponsored research accessible to industry members.
- University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreOriginal consortium partner university. Part of the 5-university NSF ERC consortium with Virginia Tech, UW, RPI, NCAT, and UPRM.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic InstitutecoreOriginal consortium partner university. Part of the 5-university NSF ERC consortium.
- North Carolina A&T State UniversitycoreOriginal consortium partner university. Part of the 5-university NSF ERC consortium.
- University of Puerto Rico-MayagüezcoreOriginal consortium partner university. Part of the 5-university NSF ERC consortium.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Center for Power Electronics Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WEMPEC (Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium): University of Wisconsin-Madison's long-standing industry consortium for power electronics and electric machines. Operates the same member-funded, multi-tier model as CPES and is its closest direct competitor for corporate R&D consortium budgets in North America.
- Aalborg University Department of Energy Technology: Aalborg University's Center of Excellence for Power Electronics is a globally recognized European research hub. Comparable research scope and industry engagement model, especially with European power-electronics OEMs.
- Georgia Tech Center for Distributed Energy: Georgia Tech's power electronics and distributed energy research programs. Competes with CPES for industry consortium members in the southeastern US and shares overlapping automotive and grid research applications.
- University of Texas at Austin Power Electronics Research Lab: UT Austin's power electronics group, led by Alex Huang, conducts research on WBG devices, HVDC, and grid applications. Comparable research scope and competes for similar industry-sponsored funding and faculty talent.
- FREEDM Systems Center: NSF Engineering Research Center at NC State University focused on power distribution systems and power electronics. Shares CPES's ERC lineage and government/industry funding model, and competes for similar grid-modernization member sponsorships.
- MIT Power Electronics Research Group: MIT's power electronics research group, led by faculty including David Perreault, works on high-frequency power conversion and WBG devices. Comparable in research prestige and competes for top PhD candidates and industrial collaborations.
- ETH Zurich Power Electronic Systems Laboratory: Leading European university power electronics lab at ETH Zurich, focused on converters, drives, and WBG technologies. A global academic peer that attracts similar industry-sponsored research and talent.
Broad incumbents
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory Power Electronics: ORNL runs substantial power electronics and electric drive research programs serving automotive and grid applications. Functions as both collaborator and competitor for industry-sponsored research in CPES's focus areas.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): US national laboratory with a large power electronics and energy systems research portfolio, including WBG and grid-forming inverter work. Operates with government funding rather than a member consortium model, but competes for the same industry research dollars and prestige.
- ABB Corporate Research: ABB's central research organization, which conducts in-house power electronics R&D for grid and industrial applications. As both a CPES Principal Plus member and an industry R&D leader, it represents the type of internal capability that may compete with consortium value over time.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Center for Power Electronics Systems social profiles
Digital presenceCenter for Power Electronics Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Center for Power Electronics Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Center for Power Electronics Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Center for Power Electronics Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Center for Power Electronics Systems
What does Center for Power Electronics Systems do?
Center for Power Electronics Systems operates an industry-funded university research consortium that conducts multi-university research, education, and technology transfer in power electronics, including packaging, integration, and control of power conversion systems. It sells consortium membership, sponsored research projects, focused mini-consortia, short courses, and industry residence engagements to corporate members.
Is Center for Power Electronics Systems a public or private company?
Center for Power Electronics Systems is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Center for Power Electronics Systems founded?
Center for Power Electronics Systems was founded in 1977. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Center for Power Electronics Systems based?
Center for Power Electronics Systems is headquartered in Blacksburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Center for Power Electronics Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Industry Consortium Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsored Research.
Who are Center for Power Electronics Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WEMPEC (Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium), Aalborg University Department of Energy Technology, Georgia Tech Center for Distributed Energy, University of Texas at Austin Power Electronics Research Lab, FREEDM Systems Center, MIT Power Electronics Research Group and ETH Zurich Power Electronic Systems Laboratory. Broad incumbents are Oak Ridge National Laboratory Power Electronics, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and ABB Corporate Research.
Does Center for Power Electronics Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Center for Power Electronics Systems.
What industry is Center for Power Electronics Systems in?
Center for Power Electronics Systems's product category is Power Electronics Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAF, Renewable Power Electronics & Advanced Inverters R&D (SiC/GaN, Grid-Forming, HVDC Converter Tech), with a secondary code of IMAGADAJ, Power Electronics for Renewable & Grid-Tied Applications (Solar inverters, wind converters, grid-tie interfaces). Its NAICS code is 22112 and its SIC code is 3600.