The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) was founded to develop and support transformational impactful projects that can help to reduce energy imports, improve efficiency and reduce emissions. The relevance of ARPA-e has never been more paramount as the current energy landscape is undergoing significant changes due to the introduction of various renewable energy sources, and the ongoing trend of electrification of systems. Trends such as the rise of digitalization, big data, data centers, artificial intelligence, hydrogen, sustainable fuels, biofuels, and electrified transportation, will further accelerate the energy landscape change. ARPA-e Program Director Dr. Peter de Bock and Tech2Market Advisor Dr. Chris Vandervort will share their vision on these topics and illustrate why engineers of today and the future will be making the difference and shaping the future.
Dr. Peter de Bock currently serves as a Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy. His focus at ARPA-E includes electronics thermal management and aviation propulsion systems.
Prior to joining ARPA-E, Dr. de Bock spent nearly 18 years with GE Research, holding various research and development positions and recently completing a focus on a system perspective on electrification of aviation. At GE Research, Dr. de Bock served as a Principal Engineer and Platform Leader for Power and Thermal Management Systems, and principal investigator on advanced programs in the areas of additive heat exchangers and advanced propulsions systems. Dr. de Bock also serves as the chair of the ASME K-16 committee on Heat Transfer in Electronics equipment and holds about 40 patents.
Raised in the Netherlands, Dr. de Bock received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and holds degrees from academic institutions in the Netherlands, US and the UK.