In a gathering that brought together nearly 100 participants, the e-conversion symposium on 23 November 2023, held at the Galileo Science Congress Center in Garching, proved to be a pivotal event in fostering collaboration between academia and industry. The symposium focused on advancing e-conversion technologies for a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply.
Prof. Achim Hartschuh gave a warm welcome and introduction about e-conversion.
Welcome and keynote addresses
The event kicked off at 9:30 a.m. with a warm welcome and an introduction to e-conversion by Prof. Dr. Achim Hartschuh from LMU. Prof. Dr. Ian Sharp from TUM followed, delving into the structures and instrumentation of e-conversion. The morning session continued with insightful industry keynote talks. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fleischer from Siemens Energy emphasized the need for e-conversion in the future energy system, while Prof. Dr. Richard Fischer from Clariant explored the challenges and catalytic contributions to the energy transition.
Afternoon sessions: High throughput methods and materials development
Following a delightful, sustainable, eco-friendly lunch and informal discussions, Prof. Dr. Helge Stein from TUM explored high throughput methods at e-conversion. In the afternoon, Dr. Julia Marie-Christine Schäfer from Heliatek GmbH delved into industry perspectives, focusing on sustainable materials development for organic photovoltaics.
With insightful industry talks, fruitful discussions, networking opportunities, and inspiring startup talks, the symposium bridged the gap between research and industry.
Startup talks, networking, poster sessions
The symposium also featured startup talks, providing a platform for emerging companies from e-conversion groups. Dr. Amir Amin (Serino), Dr. Andreas Walz (pureions GmbH), and Dr. Gianluca Pauletto (SYPOX GmbH) shared insights into their innovative businesses. The coffee breaks and lunch provided ample networking opportunities, where representatives from leading companies such as Clariant, Siemens Energy, and Heliatek engaged with researchers and participants. The poster session showcased e-conversion’s infrastructure and current research, complemented by information booths from selected companies.
Successful collaborations and potential partnerships
With a fantastic atmosphere and representatives from key players in the industry, the symposium successfully facilitated networking within the e-conversion community and beyond. The collaboration between startups and established industry giants created a dynamic environment for exchanging ideas and potential partnerships.
Looking ahead
As the network continues to grow and stabilize, the success of this symposium lies not only in the knowledge shared but also in the connections forged. The organizers express gratitude for the outstanding participation and look forward to future events that will continue bridging the gap between research and industry in pursuing sustainable energy solutions.
