Aalborg University Professor Frede Blaabjerg Ranked World’s Leading Researcher in Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Aalborg University Professor Frede Blaabjerg Ranked World’s Leading Researcher in Electronics and Electrical Engineering

(IN BRIEF) Professor Frede Blaabjerg of Aalborg University has been ranked number one in the world in electronics and electrical engineering in Research.com’s 2026 ranking, placing him ahead of researchers from Northwestern University and Princeton University. The recognition highlights the strength of Danish energy and electrical engineering research at a time when power electronics, electrification and efficient energy systems are central to the green transition. Blaabjerg’s work covers areas such as wind turbines, solar cell systems, Power-to-X, power quality, reliability and controllable electric drive systems. While welcoming the ranking, he emphasised the importance of collaboration, long-term research environments and the 85 PhD students he has educated during his career. Aalborg University Rector Per Michael Johansen described the ranking as a major recognition of both Blaabjerg and Danish research, while DTU professor Tejs Vegge praised him as an outstanding scientific authority in electrical engineering. The Research.com result follows several other top rankings and international honours, including recognition from ScholarGPS, the Stanford Ranking, the IEEE Edison Medal and an honorary doctorate from Aalto University.

(PRESS RELEASE) AALBORG, 17-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Aalborg University professor Frede Blaabjerg has been ranked as the world’s leading researcher in electronics and electrical engineering by the internationally recognised platform Research.com, marking a major international recognition for Danish energy research and its contribution to the green transition.

The 2026 Research.com ranking places Blaabjerg first worldwide in electronics and electrical engineering, ahead of Edward H. Sargent of Northwestern University and H. Vincent Poor of Princeton University. The ranking reflects his long-standing work in power electronics, energy systems and technologies that help make electricity use more efficient, stable and sustainable.

Electrical engineering plays a key role in enabling more efficient and stable use of energy across modern technologies, including wind turbines, electric vehicles, motor control systems, solar power, energy storage and other critical energy applications. Blaabjerg’s research has helped advance solutions that support the electrification of society and the wider transition to cleaner energy systems.

Blaabjerg, who is a professor at AAU Energy at Aalborg University, said he appreciates the recognition but believes the value of research cannot be measured by rankings alone. He said he is equally proud of having educated 85 PhD students during his career and of the many research outcomes that have emerged from long-term collaboration with talented colleagues and students.

He noted that research is not achieved alone, but depends on strong academic environments, capable teams and sustained work on challenges that matter.

Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University, described the ranking as an important recognition of both Frede Blaabjerg and Danish research. He said Blaabjerg has for many years been one of the world’s leading researchers in energy technology and that his work has had a major impact on the green transition. Johansen added that Blaabjerg and his international team have helped build a strong Danish and global position in energy research, benefiting both Aalborg University and Denmark more broadly.

The recognition from Research.com is not the first time Blaabjerg has reached the top of a major international ranking. On ScholarGPS, he is ranked first both over the past five years and across his full career. In the Stanford Ranking, he was listed as number one in electrical engineering in both 2024 and 2025 and as number two across his career.

Tejs Vegge, professor at the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage at DTU, described Blaabjerg as the world’s greatest scientific capacity in electrical engineering. Vegge, who works closely with Blaabjerg as co-lead of the Pioneer Center CAPeX, said Blaabjerg combines exceptional scientific impact with a down-to-earth approach and is highly valued as a collaborator.

Blaabjerg’s research areas include power electronics and applications in wind turbines, solar cell systems, reliability, Power-to-X, power quality and controllable electric drive systems. These fields are increasingly important as societies seek to integrate renewable energy, improve electricity systems and support more efficient use of power across industrial and consumer technologies.

Throughout his career, Blaabjerg has received numerous international awards. These include the IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award in 2014, the Global Energy Prize in 2019 and the IEEE Edison Medal in 2020. He was also recently awarded an honorary doctorate by Aalto University in Finland.

The Research.com ranking further underlines Aalborg University’s strong position in engineering and energy research and highlights the international impact of Danish scientific work in technologies that support the global green transition.

Facts: Frede Blaabjerg and the ranking

• Frede Blaabjerg is a professor at AAU Energy at Aalborg University.
• He is ranked No. 1 in the world in “Electronics and Electrical Engineering” in Research.com’s 2026 ranking.
• On the same list, Edward H. Sargent of Northwestern University is number 2 and H. Vincent Poor of Princeton University number 3.
• His research areas include power electronics and applications in wind turbines, solar cell systems, reliability, Power-to-X, power quality and controllable electric drive systems.
• He has received a large number of international awards, including the IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award in 2014, the Global Energy Prize in 2019, the IEEE Edison Medal in 2020 and just last Friday, Frede Blaabjerg was awarded an honorary doctorate at Aalto University in Finland.

Media Contact:

Frede Blaabjerg
Professor
AAU Energy
Aalborg University
+45 2129 2454 / 9940 9254
fbl@energy.aau.dk

Caspar Birk
Press advisor
Aalborg University
+45 2249 1303
cabi@adm.aau.dk

SOURCE: Aalborg University