NEWS & EVENTS
Strategic Improvements
Oct 29, 2020
CPES is undertaking a series of efforts to improve its already strong delivery of value to members. The enhancements will focus on four specific areas: the CPES website, intellectual property sharing, the mini-consortium program, and the Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Progress will be reported at the next IAB Meeting, in April 2021.
These topics and the actions associated with them, result from a rational process that included vital inputs from several important groups. The biennial Industry Survey, conducted in January and February 2020, polled all members for their thoughts on every aspect of CPES programming. The survey was analyzed carefully and presented in June by the IAB Executive Committee to the IAB and company representatives. The IAB Executive Committee and CPES leadership, with an eye towards expected impacts and resources required, further evaluated the feedback from this group.
Industry Survey Topics
- Industry Advisory Board
- Industry Consortium Structure
- Mini-Consortium Program
- Annual Conference
- Website
- Industry Webinars
- Faculty and Student Access
- Industry Residence Program
- Short Course
Industry Advisory Board
The IAB serves as a critical bridge between industry and CPES. CPES relies on the IAB to give guidance on research directions and operational issues, to help maximize the value provided to consortium partners. Inputs received indicated a lack of awareness of the role and activities of the IAB, even among IAB representatives.
CPES, with direction from the IAB Executive Committee, wants to make all IAB representatives and the general membership more aware of the important IAB purposes by maximizing member involvement and information exchange. The initiation of an IAB newsletter (this one and the previous from June 2020) and the new IAB webpage (see IAB Webpage article) are prime examples of informing IAB representatives and members of the impact the IAB has on our consortium.
CPES Website
The CPES website is critical to member engagement and key to our mission of disseminating knowledge. More than forty years of searchable publications, presentations, patents and more are available for CPES partners. However, such a large collection of material creates challenges for effective searching. The inevitable marching of technology also means that the last website upgrade, from more than five years ago is a bit out-of-date. The rejuvenation aims to improve overall user experience and search capability. The new IAB webpage is also a part of this effort.
Intellectual Property Sharing
CPES has an impressive history of IP creation and translation of those advances to industry. Enabled by our unique model, over the past 20 years CPES has disclosed more than 115 inventions to industry partners and the consortium funded 85 successful patents!
Principal Plus and Principal Members are able to use the technology disclosed to them during their membership period, through a royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable license.
Principal Plus and Principal Members are able to use the technology disclosed to them during their membership period, through a royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable license.
Mini-Consortium Program
Principal Plus Members select to join one of our research focus areas:
- PMC (Power Management Consortium)
- HDI (High Density Integration)
- WBG-HPCS (Wide Bandgap High Power Converters & Systems)
Survey participants expressed interest in including technology testbeds in the existing mini-consortia. Additionally, a new mini-consortia group focused on "WBG power semiconductor devices" is appealing to members. CPES leadership will explore these ideas and possible implementation.
Learn more about https://cpes.vt.edu/news/news/975
