SET POWER SYSTEMS GMBH

Their core work

SET Power Systems GmbH is a German engineering firm specializing in power electronics for electric mobility applications, with a particular focus on wide band-gap (WBG) semiconductor technology — silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices used in high-efficiency power conversion. Their core work centers on the design, development, and validation of power electronics systems for electric drivetrains and EV charging infrastructure. In H2020 projects, they contributed engineering expertise on drivetrain power stages, charger hardware, and test systems used to validate WBG-based components under real operating conditions. Based in Wangen im Allgäu in Germany's automotive-dense Baden-Württemberg region, they operate at the intersection of power electronics hardware and electric vehicle systems integration.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first H2020 project (HiPERFORM, 2018–2021), SET Power Systems worked at the component and subsystem level — wide band-gap semiconductors, discrete charger hardware, and test systems for drivetrain components. Their second project (HiEFFICIENT, 2021–2024) dropped the component-level vocabulary and introduced system-level concepts: smart mobility, efficiency optimization, integration, and reliability across the full drivetrain. This trajectory is typical of power electronics firms maturing from "we make good hardware" toward "we make hardware that works reliably inside complex electric vehicle systems." The logical next step in their evolution would be software-defined power management, predictive reliability, or integration into broader mobility platforms.

SET Power Systems is moving up the value chain from discrete power electronics components toward full drivetrain system integration, making them increasingly relevant partners for EV platform architects and mobility OEM consortia.

How they like to work

SET Power Systems has participated exclusively as a non-coordinating partner across both projects, which is consistent with a specialist firm that contributes deep technical capability to consortia led by larger research institutes or OEMs. Despite never leading a project, they have engaged with 47 unique partners across 10 countries through just two projects — a sign they join large, well-networked RIA consortia rather than small bilateral efforts. This suggests they are comfortable as a focused technical contributor within diverse multi-partner structures, and a prospective collaborator should expect them to deliver a well-defined technical work package rather than take on project management responsibilities.

With 47 unique partners across 10 countries from only two projects, SET Power Systems operates within exceptionally large European R&D consortia — consistent with the Horizon 2020 ECSEL/RIA format typical of automotive and power electronics programs. Their network likely spans German automotive suppliers, pan-European research institutes, and EV component manufacturers.

What sets them apart

SET Power Systems occupies a focused niche that relatively few private companies master: the engineering of wide band-gap power electronics specifically for electric mobility, validated through both charger and drivetrain applications in industrial R&D consortia. Their location in Baden-Württemberg places them physically adjacent to the European automotive tier-1 supply chain, giving them practical relevance that pure research institutes cannot match. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination of component-level WBG expertise and system integration experience, without the overhead of a large corporate partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HiEFFICIENT
  Their largest funded project (EUR 158,325) and most recent work, it represents the clearest signal of their current capability — modular, intelligent, highly integrated electric drivetrains using WBG technology.
• HiPERFORM
  Their entry into H2020 research, establishing the WBG-for-drivetrains foundation and demonstrating breadth by covering charger hardware and test systems alongside drivetrain power stages.