[news 2010-2011]

Queen’s researcher-innovator recognized by world’s largest engineering association

Sept. 22, 2011

For immediate release

KINGSTON, ON -- A Queen’s University researcher specializing in energy- and cost- efficient power electronic technologies has been recognized by the world’s largest professional technology advancement association for his work in the field of power conversion.

Dr. Praveen Jain, Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics at Queen’s, and President and CEO of PARTEQ spinoff SPARQ Systems Inc., has been named the 2011 recipient of the William E. Newell Power Electronics Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It is the organization’s highest award in the field of power electronics. Dr. Jain is being honoured for his advancements in the theory and practice of high-frequency power conversion systems.

“This award is highly deserved,” says Dr. Steven Liss, Vice-Principal (Research) at Queen’s. “Dr. Jain’s work has positioned Queen’s as a global leader in power electronics and power conversion research and commercialization. Equally importantly, he has created valuable, hands-on learning opportunities for his students, who are experiencing the challenges and the rewards of helping to move his breakthrough technologies to market.”

Director of the Queen’s University Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research (ePOWER), Dr. Jain is a world renowned expert in power electronics and a highly successful serial entrepreneur. He was the founder of CHiL Semiconductor, which was recently sold to International Rectifier for $75 million, and has worked with a wide array of industries, including Ballard Power, Canadian Aeronautics, General Electric, Intel and Nortel Networks.

His most recent efforts have focused on developing advanced photovoltaic (PV) microinverter products and systems, now being brought to market by Kingston-based SPARQ Systems Inc., a spinoff company of PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s.

Microinverters are the heart of solar panel installations, converting direct current, harvested by the panel, into alternating current compatible with the electric utility grid. Dr. Jain’s technology uses advanced digital control techniques that eliminate unreliable hardware, creating a more efficient, compact and lightweight microinverter that meets both the current and future needs of the rapidly evolving solar industry. It also enables homeowners and small businesses to connect solar panels to the grid at reasonable prices.

The SPARQ microinverter was recently approved for use across North America.

Academically, Dr. Jain’s research contributions have resulted in more than 375 publications and 38 patents. He has secured over $15M in external research funding, and is active in most IEEE and major international conferences in the power electronics field. He has supervised more than 75 research engineers, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

Dr. Jain holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) and the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). In addition to the William E. Newell Award, he is also a recipient of the Engineering Medal (R&D) from the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

“Dr. Jain’s work has resulted in a solar PV product that is truly next-generation. It is efficient, reliable, responsive and capable of being easily adapted to the increasing integration and miniaturization of solar systems,” says John Molloy, Chair of the SPARQ Board of Directors and President and CEO of PARTEQ Innovations. “The impact of his innovations in power electronics is considerable and make him a highly deserving recipient of this award.”

The award is being presented today by the IEEE at the Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition in Phoenix, Arizona. The IEEE has 395,000 members in more than 160 countries.

Contact:

John Molloy

President & CEO

PARTEQ Innovations

P: 613. 533. 2342

E: jmolloy@parteqinnovations.com

About PARTEQ Innovations:

PARTEQ Innovations is the not-for-profit technology transfer office of Queen’s University, part of the Rideau Commercialization Network. PARTEQ works with institutional researchers and the business and venture capital communities to bring early stage technologies to market. Since 1987 PARTEQ has been instrumental in the establishment of more than 40 companies developing a variety of products, from potential drugs for Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease to automated bacteria detection for water systems, solar-powered appliances, and advanced materials used in the plastics, automotive, aerospace and household appliance industries.