전력전자학회는 전기·전자 분야의 중추적인 학회로서 전력전자 기술발전과 산학연 간의 유대강화를 위해 지속적으로 노력하며 국내 전력산업 및 학문발전에 기여하고 있다. 본지는 정세교 전력전자학회장을 만나 전력전자 학계에서 이슈가 되고 있는 기술과 인력부족 문제 대응 등 2024년의 전반적인 현황에 대해 이야기를 나눴다.
“In order to secure engineering talents such as power electronics, we need to provide R&D personnel with exceptional treatment at the level of advanced countries.”
Even large companies are short on the manpower they need… The manpower shortage in small and medium-sized companies is at a serious level
Number of graduate students stagnant… Need to present vision for social treatment after graduation
Power Electronics Society, Strengthening Graduate School Promotion and Promoting Programs to Attract Excellent Overseas Talent
[Editor's Note] Power electronics technology is an essential technology applied to various fields such as aerospace, renewable energy, eco-friendly transportation technology, and ESS, and is also considered an important technology in global trends such as carbon neutrality. The Power Electronics Society, established to advance this technology and enhance expertise, is a central academic society in the electrical and electronic fields and is continuously striving to advance power electronics technology and strengthen ties between industry, academia, and research, contributing to the development of the domestic power industry and academia. Our magazine met with Jeong Se-gyo, the president of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics, to discuss the overall situation in 2024, including responses to issues such as technology and personnel shortages that are becoming issues in the power electronics community.
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▲Jeong Se-gyo, President of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics (Professor of Control and Measurement Engineering, Gyeongsang National University)
■ Please tell us about the importance of power electronics technology in carbon neutrality and the role of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics.
Carbon neutrality is the transition of the energy sources we use from existing fossil fuels to various eco-friendly and sustainable energy sources, and electrification, which converts the energy generated here into clean and convenient forms of electrical energy, is spreading across all industries.
Power electronics technology is a technology that converts, stores, and controls electricity generated from various energy sources such as hydrogen, solar energy, and wind power so that consumers can easily use it. It is a core technology for electric mobility, robots, mobile devices, home appliances, and manufacturing industries that use electric energy, as well as power grids and charging infrastructure that ensure a stable supply of electricity.
Recently, the expansion of the power supply network for AI has become a hot issue, and power electronics technology plays the most important role here.
I believe that the role of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics is to create a forum for exchanges between industry, academia, research institutes, public institutions, and policymakers related to power electronics technology, so that they can develop new technologies, train and supply R&D personnel, and thereby advance the power electronics industry.
The role of academic societies has recently become simple We see it developing into a community where industry, academia, and research institutions interact beyond academic activities.
■ I am curious about the technologies and trends that will be issues in the power electronics field in 2024 and what research and development is being conducted in relation to them.
First, power electronics technology for building an eco-friendly and sustainable energy supply network can be mentioned, and construction of direct current transmission and distribution networks and grid forming technology are being actively researched.
Building power infrastructure for data centers for the AI era is also a global hot issue.
Next, electrification is spreading and accelerating across all industries.
Beyond electric vehicles, electrification is rapidly progressing into new fields such as eco-friendly ships, aircraft, UAM, defense industry, construction machinery, and agriculture.
Power semiconductors are also expected to play an important role.
As large corporations such as Samsung Electronics and SK are actively entering the business, it is predicted that next-generation power semiconductors such as SiC and GaN will soon secure price competitiveness, and it is expected that there will be significant changes in the mass production and standardization of power electronics products in connection with the module and packaging industries.
■ Many industries are expressing concerns about a shortage of manpower. I would like to hear about the current situation in the industry and academia and what responses are needed.
Companies are showing greater interest in the 2024 Power Electronics Summer Conference than in previous years.
We understand that the biggest reason is securing excellent R&D personnel.
Since large companies are short of the manpower they need, the manpower shortage in small and medium-sized companies is serious.
In contrast, the number of students in domestic graduate schools is stagnant, and I think that the increase in medical school enrollment next year will have an impact on securing top-tier talent in the short term.
In order to secure excellent talent in the engineering field, including the power electronics field, improving the treatment of R&D personnel is the most important issue.
For those with a PhD in power electronics, wages in advanced countries such as the United States are about two to three times higher than those at large domestic companies.
As the demand cannot be met by domestic manpower alone due to the declining school-age population, attracting excellent students from overseas is also considered essential, and policies are thought to be necessary to settle excellent R&D manpower in Korea.
The society is strengthening its promotion so that excellent students can major in power electronics in graduate school, and plans to significantly expand the recruitment consultation session at the 2024 summer academic conference to help companies secure excellent human resources.
In addition, in order to secure excellent overseas human resources, we held a symposium in Vietnam with the participation of domestic companies early this year, and are currently promoting a program to attract excellent human resources to Vietnam together with excellent domestic companies.
■ I have a question about the part in the speech by the president of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics that said that the MZ generation talents will become the main players in the society. I have a question. I wonder if the research and development direction pursued by those who have been researching for a long time, like the chairman, is different from the research and development and needs that the new generation wants to do.
This may not be something only felt in academia.
I think the focus of value on work is much different than the direction of research and development.
In particular, I believe that the work done at the academic society has a strong service nature, and through that, we create networks with the academic and industrial communities and find value and fulfillment for ourselves.
I don't think the MZ generation has a very different opinion on that matter.
However, in the past, the academic society grew through the will and efforts of leaders without a clear definition of the value of work. Now, the value of work must be clearly defined and communicated, and a communication and decision-making system that matches this must be created.
If you look at the new members who are active in academic societies recently, they are very active and have clear goals.
The sense of internationalization is also really outstanding.
Therefore, if we can establish a system and inclusiveness that can accommodate the strengths of the MZ generation, we believe that the future of our society is very bright.
■ There is also a hope that our country will raise its status in the non-memory semiconductor industry. I would like to hear about how our country can develop its capabilities in the non-memory semiconductor sector and what is needed for this.
Although semiconductor technology is very important in the power electronics field, power electronics technology is in the area of utilization rather than development of semiconductors.
Semiconductors used in the power electronics field include power semiconductors that can handle large amounts of power and control semiconductors such as PMICs and digital processors.
The domestic base in this field is weak, and Infineon, On Semi, TI, and ST Microelectronics have a large market share.
SK, Samsung, and others are investing in power semiconductors such as SiC and GaN, and LX Semicon is expanding its business from the display sector to PMIC and power semiconductors.
In addition, small and medium-sized companies are conducting business in the important module and packaging sectors in the power electronics sector in conjunction with electric vehicles.
I am cautious as I am not a semiconductor expert, but the business areas of Samsung and TMSC, which are currently competing in the system semiconductor foundry sector, are manufacturing.
When it comes to the field of design, the gap with advanced countries is very large.
In Korea, there are no major companies other than LX Semicon.
From the perspective of a systems engineer specializing in power electronics, I believe that the participation and collaboration of circuit and system engineers is very important in implementing system semiconductors on silicon wafers, rather than circuits and systems that were previously implemented at the PCB level.
In overseas semiconductor companies such as Apple, Intel, TI, Infineon, and On Semiconductor, many power electronics engineers are participating in research and development in the fields of circuit and system design, modules, and packaging, but in Korea, this area is relatively lacking.I think it's weak.
Therefore, in order to develop the system semiconductor industry in our country, it is necessary to foster these fields, and our society also plans to establish a research group in the power semiconductor and PMIC fields this year to strengthen research and industry-academic cooperation activities in these fields.
■ Please tell us about the goals of the Power Electronics Society for 2024 and your personal wishes as the president.
I would like to focus on publicizing the value and importance of power electronics technology in realizing the carbon neutral and electrification era.
The various activities of the society are ultimately linked to this, and I believe that the academic world will become a driving force for excellent human resources to major in power electronics and enter the industry to revitalize and develop the power electronics field.
As mentioned earlier, both universities and industries are currently experiencing a shortage of R&D personnel.
We hope to actively promote the importance and future vision of power electronics through various activities and to help universities, industries, and the government cooperate to solve these problems.