Power electronics cluster

What Power electronics cluster does

Cluster Leistungselektronik im ECPE e.V. (operating as 'Clusterle') is a Bavarian non-profit industry cluster founded in 2006 and headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany, embedded within the European Center for Power Electronics (ECPE e.V.). It initiates innovation across the entire power electronics value chain in Bavaria — from components to systems — with a focus on automotive, industrial drive technology and traction, renewable energies and power grids, and building and lighting technology. The organization serves as a network intermediary between industry, universities, and research institutions, and also runs a startup pipeline (monthly Startup features) and a youth talent funnel (PCIM Students Day, FIRST LEGO League regional competition, ECPE/SEMIKRON Young Engineer Awards).

The cluster's core service portfolio comprises training programs and seminars (Schulungen & Seminare), professional events and ECPE workshops, a free job board for member companies, joint trade fair booths (PCIM Europe, CIPS) organized with Bayern Innovativ and Bayern International, and international cooperation initiatives including the Bavarian-Japanese Chips Partnership (BJCP, 2026) and a Cross-Cluster Project 'PowerTrains' with the Rail Technology Cluster (January 2026). It earns revenue primarily through per-event training fees (priced €135–€670 depending on industry, university, or student tier, with a 15% discount for ECPE members) and recurring membership dues from cluster actors and ECPE member companies; some activities are publicly funded (ESF+, Bavarian ministries) and free to participants.

Operationally, the cluster runs a small team of 11–50 staff led by Clustermanager Bernd Bitterlich, with functional leads across marketing, organization, and events (Lena Somschor, Angela von der Grün, Krista Schmidt), ECPE contacts (Svenja Roth), research projects (Chris Gould), and student-day coordination (Marietta Di Dio). Its distribution is event-driven: in-person training across multiple German cities (Nuremberg, Munich, Erlangen, Berlin, Karlsruhe, Würzburg, Kempten), online seminars, an always-on job board, and a website + LinkedIn presence. As a registered association rather than a venture-backed or listed entity, the cluster has no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no disclosed revenue or ARR; its scale is best understood as a stable, publicly supported ecosystem platform rather than a high-growth commercial enterprise.

Name

Power electronics cluster

Legal name

ECPE European Center for Power Electronics e.V.

Website

https://clusterle.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cluster Leistungselektronik im ECPE e.V. is a Bavarian non-profit industry cluster founded in 2006 in Nuremberg that organizes power electronics training, seminars, conferences, a job board, and youth programs for member companies, universities, and students along the full power electronics value chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power electronics industry training and networking services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Regional/Field Leadership Meetings (Territory/Market Summits) (THAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Power electronics training
• Engineering seminars
• Technology cluster
• Industry networking
• Research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Nuremberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Training and seminar services: The cluster offers training programs and seminars for engineers in power electronics. Training fees are charged to companies and universities, with discounted rates for ECPE member companies. Student participation is available at reduced rates.
2. Membership fees: Cluster actors and ECPE member companies pay membership fees to access the cluster network, job board, and internal resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The cluster organizes paid training programs and technical seminars covering power electronics topics for engineers and young professionals, hosts industry events and conferences (PCIM Europe, CIPS), and runs a free job board for cluster actors and ECPE member companies. Beyond that, it curates youth outreach programs such as PCIM Students Day and the FIRST LEGO League regional competition, sponsors industry recognitions including the ECPE Young Engineer Award, and facilitates international cooperation through the Bavarian-Japanese Chips Partnership and cross-cluster initiatives.

Product overview

The Cluster Leistungselektronik (Bavarian Power Electronics Cluster) is a network organization that provides a comprehensive portfolio of services for the power electronics industry. Its core offerings include training programs and seminars covering a wide spectrum of power electronics topics, professional events and conferences, a job board for the industry, youth outreach programs (PCIM Students Day, FIRST LEGO League Challenge), and industry awards (CIPS Young Engineer Award, PCIM Young Engineer Award, SEMIKRON Innovation Award). The cluster also facilitates international cooperation through the Bavarian-Japanese Chips Partnership and cross-cluster projects like PowerTrains. Joint trade fair booth programs through Bayern International and Bayern Innovativ support SMEs in showcasing innovations. The cluster is embedded in the ECPE (European Center for Power Electronics) network and operates as an innovation initiative for Bavarian industry along the entire power electronics value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schulungen & Seminare (Training Programs and Seminars) Comprehensive training and seminar program covering topics in power electronics, including technical courses, expert discussions, and hands-on lab courses for engineers and young professionals. Participants pay tiered fees (industry, university, student), with ECPE member companies receiving a 15% discount.
• Cluster Events and ECPE Events Organization and hosting of professional events including conferences, workshops, trade show joint booths (PCIM Europe), and networking opportunities in the power electronics industry, coordinated with the ECPE network.
• Stellenangebote (Job Board) Job exchange platform offering positions for experienced engineers, young engineers, students, and doctoral candidates in the power electronics sector. Free posting service for cluster actors and ECPE member companies.
• PCIM Students Day Annual student day organized by ECPE and the cluster on the last day of the PCIM Europe Exhibition to inspire students about power electronics through industry presentations.
• FIRST LEGO League Challenge (Nuremberg regional) Youth outreach program: regional robotics competition organized annually in Nuremberg under FIRST LEGO League to encourage children and teenagers in science, technology, and engineering (MINT).
• ECPE Young Engineer Award Program Annual youth recognition program sponsored by ECPE at major power electronics conferences (PCIM Europe and CIPS) honoring outstanding contributions by young engineers in power electronics; supports the cluster's talent-development goals.
• SEMIKRON Nachwuchs- und Innovationspreis Young engineer and innovation award jointly awarded by ECPE and the Semikron Foundation since 2012 as part of the 'Young Engineers Needed' program, recognizing emerging talent in power electronics.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ECPE e.V. (European Center for Power Electronics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe cluster operates as 'Cluster Leistungselektronik im ECPE e.V.' - the Bavarian power electronics cluster is an integral part of the European Center for Power Electronics organization. ECPE provides the umbrella for training programs, Young Engineer Awards, and international collaboration.
• Bayern InnovativcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayern Innovativ organizes joint exhibition stands at international trade fairs, enabling innovative Bavarian companies and research institutes to showcase at major industry events with professional support and funding from the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs.
• Bayern InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough the Bavarian trade fair participation program, the cluster helps SMEs present at international trade fairs under the Bavarian umbrella, with participation supported and professionally organized by Bayern International.
• Bavarian Chips AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of events like the Cluster-Treff on thermal management, combining expertise in chips and power electronics for shared industry events.
• Bavarian-Japanese Chips Partnership (BJCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation initiative to promote exchange between companies, universities, and research institutions in Bavaria and Japan, initiate development cooperation, and build a strengthened intercontinental network in power electronics and chips.
• ESECA ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational activity project supporting cross-border collaboration in power electronics between Bavaria and other regions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom e.V. German digital industry association with events, training, networking, and policy advocacy. Comparable as a member-driven industry association offering seminars, awards, and recruiting formats for the broader tech ecosystem.
• ZVEI — Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie: German electrical and electronic industry trade association offering networking, standards, training, and policy advocacy. Overlaps with the cluster on industry representation and member services but at a national, multi-sector level.
• Bayern Innovativ GmbH: State-backed Bavarian innovation agency that organizes joint trade fair booths, technology transfer programs, and cluster coordination across multiple technology domains. Directly comparable to the cluster's role as a Bavarian power-electronics-specific innovation intermediary, but operating at a broader portfolio level.
• IEEE Power Electronics Society: Global professional society for power electronics, organizing conferences (e.g., ECCE), publications, awards, and educational resources. Overlaps with the cluster on training, awards (Young Engineer recognition), and conference participation.
• VDI — Verein Deutscher Ingenieure: Germany's largest engineering association providing continuing education, technical standards, and recruiting events. Comparable on training, certification, and recruiting-day offerings aimed at engineers.

Direct peers

• Silicon Saxony e.V. Major German microelectronics/semiconductor cluster based in Saxony. Operates as a member-driven industry network organizing events, talent programs, and international cooperation — structurally analogous to the Power Electronics Cluster but focused on semiconductors.
• ECPE European Center for Power Electronics e.V. European industry network for power electronics; the cluster legally operates as 'Cluster Leistungselektronik im ECPE e.V.', making ECPE the parent and most direct peer — sharing mission, awards, training, and events.
• Energy Saxony e.V. Regional cluster for energy technology in Saxony, focused on renewable energies and power grids. Directly comparable cluster organization model (regional industry network, events, training), with partial thematic overlap on power grids and renewables.

Others

• Mesago Messe Frankfurt (PCIM organizer): Organizer of PCIM Europe, the cluster's flagship co-located event. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem enabler — convening the same audience (power electronics engineers, vendors) that the cluster serves with training and awards.

Regional players

• Automotive Cluster (Bayern Innovativ): Bavarian automotive cluster under Bayern Innovativ, one of the cluster's named key applications. Shares the regional cluster-management model and overlap on EV/power-electronics training content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cluster-leistungselektronik
• Xx.com/Bav_Cluster_PE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Power electronics cluster