The internationally renowned 2025 IEEE International Future Energy Challenge (IFEC), a global annual power electronics design competition for undergrad students, recently held its grand finals at Chroma ATE Inc.'s headquarters in Taoyuan, Taiwan. This year's final competition focused on "Isolated DC-DC Converters with Fast Transient Response and Low Noise," challenging students to tackle complex issues such as the stability and interference suppression in high-end energy conversion applications.
This year-long competition began with 17 teams from 10 countries in the preliminary review, narrowed down to 12 teams from 9 countries for the mid-term selection, and finally saw 8 teams advance to the finals. Of these, 66 students of seven teams from seven countries traveled to Taiwan for the Grand Finale, co-hosted by Chroma and National Taipei University of Technology, to present their final designs and demonstrate their teamwork. Chroma also contributed to the technical theme conceptualization for IFEC 2025 and provided the venue and crucial test and measurement equipment for the final teams during the four-day intensive competition.
Global engineering talent converges
The seven teams that reached the IFEC finals demonstrated exceptional engineering talent from around the world:
*Utah State University (USA)
*Warsaw University of Technology (Poland)
*Reutlingen University (Germany)
*KU Leuven and Hasselt University (Belgium)
*Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (India)
*National Formosa University (Taiwan)
*University of Belgrade (Serbia)
Competition highlights and award winners
Following rigorous judging, the major awards were announced:
*Grand Champion Award (US$10,000): Claimed by Warsaw University of Technology from Poland. Their design was the only one that successfully completed and passed all testing procedures.
*Outstanding Performance Award (US$5,000): Won by National Formosa University from Taiwan. This team was unique in achieving system automation, showcasing remarkable technical foresight.
Other notable award recipients included:
*Innovation Award: Reutlingen University (Germany)
*Best Teamwork Award: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (India)
*Outstanding Technical Report Award: KU Leuven and Hasselt University (Belgium)
*Educational Impact Award and Outstanding Presentation Award: University of Belgrade (Serbia)
Power Electronics and IFEC: A glimpse into the future
Power electronics is a rapidly evolving and critical field, with applications ranging from smartphones and electric vehicles to AI servers and large-scale power grids. As emphasized by Johan Enslin, President of the IEEE Power Electronics Society: "The simple yet powerful idea behind IFEC is to encourage the next generation of engineers in innovation and practical experience in sustainable energy solutions."
Since its inception in 2001, IFEC has grown into one of the most respected student competitions in power electronics design globally. In recognition of their founding contributions to IFEC 25 years ago and their ongoing advocacy, Professor Philip Krein from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Dr. Jason Lai from Virginia Tech were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Chroma ATE's enduring commitment to fostering young talent
As a global leader in power electronics test and measurement solutions, Chroma ATE has been a steadfast sponsor of IFEC since 2016. The successful hosting of this year's competition in Taiwan is a direct result of Chroma ATE's collaborative efforts with National Taipei University of Technology to secure the hosting rights. Through its Taiwan headquarters and global branches in the U.S., China, and Europe, Chroma ATE provided extensive support, including an 8000 test system, furnishing students with critical tools needed for the competition.
Mr. Paul Ying, Chroma ATE's Chief Sustainability Officer and Chairman of Chroma Cultural and Educational Foundation, stated at the awards ceremony: "Chroma ATE is particularly proud to host these finals in Taiwan. This not only supports Chroma ATE but also showcases our role as a true partner in building a global platform for young talent. Through the Chroma Cultural and Educational Foundation, we aim to provide more opportunities for young engineers like these to learn, explore, and succeed." Mr. Ying highlighted that IFEC perfectly aligns with Chroma ATE's mission to encourage young talent to solve real-world energy challenges through creativity, teamwork, and technical excellence.
Mr. David Yang, General Manager of Chroma ATE's Measurement Instrument Division, underscored the importance of power electronics across global industries, including consumer electronics, semiconductors, AI servers, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. He encouraged participants to consider career opportunities at Chroma ATE after graduation.
Lasting impressions and future outlook
IFEC 2025 left a profound impression on many participants. A professor from the University of Belgrade lauded it as "the best IFEC" he had ever experienced, praising the attention to detail, the vibrant atmosphere, and the warmth extended to everyone. Student Shen from National Formosa University in Taiwan noted that IFEC provided him with an opportunity to interact with international students, sparking his interest in pursuing a master's degree in power electronics and broadening his perspective on the field. Leonard Markus, a student from Germany, expressed gratitude, saying, "We felt very welcomed here, learned a lot from professors and fellow students, and Chroma ATE took good care of us." Several students mentioned that they were unfamiliar with Chroma ATE before coming to Taiwan, but would now consider its overseas branches for future job prospects.
Professor Katherine Kim of National Taiwan University reminded students that in IFEC, the only failure is not learning anything from the experience. Mr. Ying echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that IFEC is not just about winning, but about growing as a team, as problem-solvers, and as global citizens.
"In engineering, as in life, failure often teaches us more than success," Mr. Ying said. "Please remember: the connections you build here may extend far beyond this event. Build friendships, ask questions, and continue to be inspired. We are all rooting for you!"
Credit: Chroma ATE
Credit: Chroma ATE
Credit: Chroma ATE
Credit: Chroma ATE
Article edited by Jack Wu