Minister Visit to Danfoss Silicon Power

Schleswig-Holstein's Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour, Transport and Technology, Reinhard Meyer, visited Danfoss Silicon Power March 4th, where he learned about the company's successful partnership with Kiel University of Applied Sciences (FH Kiel).
This relationship centers on the development of power electronics, especially technology for turning power semiconductors into power modules and for cooling power components effectively.

Meyer said that a successful technology transfer of this kind between universities and businesses fosters innovation and competitiveness, both within the region and beyond. He added that it also plays an important part in the transition to sustainable energy systems.

Dr. Frank Osterwald, Head of Technology at DSP (Danfoss Silicon Power), praised the close and effective cooperation with the university. He emphasized the fact that, besides the technical expertise involved, the project owed its success in large part to the outstanding work of FH Kiel's technology transfer and the university R&D center’s project management. Since the partnership began, around twenty graduates of the university have found employment at Danfoss Silicon Power. He noted that the company has also invested millions in a specially developed production facility, which means it's now possible to provide outstanding, customer-specific products to the energy and automotive industries.

Prof. Dr. Udo Beer, President of the FH Kiel, highlighted the fundamental importance of cooperation with industry for the university, and expressed a hope that there would be more opportunities to support such partnerships in the future. These partnerships are particularly important as a basis for practically-oriented education, said Beer, and help ensure a reliable supply of qualified, skilled workers for the regional economy. 

A number of international customers have shown an interest in the new technologies, and this interest has already resulted in specific project enquiries. These enquiries have prompted DSP to recruit 25 additional highly-qualified employees this year, mainly in the area of Development. This really demonstrates how DSP and FH Kiel are leading the way in partnerships between the public and private sectors

About Danfoss Silicon Power

Danfoss Silicon Power is a subsidiary of the Danfoss Group, the largest industrial company in Denmark. For decades, Danfoss Silicon Power has been helping top tier manufacturers and system suppliers meet stringent reliability, design and cost targets by designing, developing and manufacturing customized power modules for automotive, industrial and renewable applications.