Dr. Srinivas Ponnaluri

I founded SK Consultants to bridge gaps in India’s high‑end R&D and deliver world‑class innovation globally. With 1,000+ inventions across mobility, energy, digital, defence, aerospace & industry—validated by thousands of simulations—a world‑record benchmark in power electronics & control. From deployable low‑risk products to frontier concepts, we enable partners to leapfrog technology, unlock multi‑billion opportunities, and drive sustainable growth in the $1T+ market.

Entrusted to build a new propulsion business line from the ground up, I delivered nearly the entire technology stack—system architecture, HW/SW, validation & test infra—via SK Consultants. Established labs, proto facilities, and a sustainable growth ecosystem by mentoring engineers with no prior experience. Flagship achievement: complete next‑gen propulsion suite with multi‑MW converters, advanced control HW/SW, RTS validation, and proprietary mechanical innovations.

Reported to CEO/MD and occasionally Chairman/Board on strategic tech. Led 500+ engineers across global R&D centers (India, EU) with $40M budget incl. $8M Mumbai. Directed R&D strategy, CapEx/OpEx, advanced labs (HV 1200kV, drives, automation, propulsion). Drove BI, innovation, IP frameworks, TRIZ, talent programs. Achieved $1B pipeline, 90% on‑time projects, ₹900M savings, breakthroughs in transformers, motors, STATCOMs, IoT devices, solar pumps, consumer innovations.

Reported to Chairman with full P&L for Trolex, a leader in loco & mining equipment. Directed all functions (R&D, Ops, Finance, HR, Sales, Quality, Procurement). Partnered with Indian Railways on indigenous dev, secured global tie‑ups incl. EVPU. Drove governance, ERP reforms, quality & sensor SW. Achieved 60% turnover & 50% profit growth in 1 yr, qualified for propulsion tenders, improved transparency, mentored teams, and positioned Trolex as trusted partner for sustainable growth.

Reported to CMD with full accountability for Power Electronics R&D (>80% revenue). Led 50+ engineers & 100+ staff across lifecycle from planning to transfer. Shaped vision, mission & KPIs. Drove Medha’s rise from ₹2.5B to >₹30B, ending foreign dominance & modernizing Indian Railways. Directed 19+ NextGen traction projects, saved tens of millions via converter redesigns, built platform‑oriented org, invented key topologies, led ₹300M OHE lab, achieved RDSO approvals & implemented LEAN/ISO/IRIS.

Reported to Global VP Eng. at €10B BT (now Alstom). Consolidated outsourcing from 5 sites into 2 Indian centres, directing 70 engineers. Built governance, KPIs, financial controls & collaborative frameworks adopted across divisions. Boosted efficiency 40% (task time 5→3 days), raised satisfaction 3.2→4.33/5. Designed KPI system, “pitcher–catcher” comms, workflow tool. Developed AI ESC tool, harmonized processes, Global SW Owner for TCMS. Left legacy of excellence & innovation.

Reported to VP‑Tech & Innovation, developing NextGen converters & control platforms across multilevel, distributed gen, UPS, power quality & traction. Led GM Fuel Cell 1.2MW grid converter, coordinated globally on certification & transfer. Invented ~30 topologies incl. TWIN, advanced PWM, filed patents. Built AI design tool benchmark. Designed world’s 1st microturbine active converters, secured India’s 1st IGBT traction order, contributed STATCOMs, Navy studies, EU MODTRAIN & academic partnerships.

Reported to Head Power Electronics R&D at ABB CRC Germany, entrusted with a High Impact Project on Smart Grid Interface. Delivered landmark inventions incl. early AI, digital twin of converters, and dual‑mode UPS/islanding systems cutting CapEx/OpEx ~50%. Built prototypes with Semikron/dSPACE, authored advanced control SW, filed patents, published IEEE/EPE. Promoted to Sr. Scientist in 1 yr; legacy shaped ABB’s later rail & power products.

Reported to Head Power Electronics R&D at ABB CRC Germany, entrusted with a High Impact Project on Smart Grid Interface. Delivered landmark inventions incl. early AI, digital twin of converters, and dual‑mode UPS/islanding systems cutting CapEx/OpEx ~50%. Built prototypes with Semikron/dSPACE, authored advanced control SW, filed patents, published IEEE/EPE. Promoted to Sr. Scientist in 1 yr; legacy shaped ABB’s later rail & power products.

Internal transfer from ABB Transportation/Adtranz to ABB Corporate R&D India to drive original development. Founded Bangalore R&D centre, delivering STATCOM innovations (15 kVA prototype to 25 kVA product), generalized converter design framework, energy meter breakthrough, and block modulation advances. Contributed to substation automation, mentored engineers, and built foundations that shaped ABB’s global platforms and future GenAI programs.

Joined ABB Transportation after IISc IGBT inverter work was recognized by leadership. Contributed to $300M Indian Railways modernization ($60M tech transfer, 33 locos) and became sole Indian in ABB Switzerland’s traction R&D. Advanced line‑side/motor‑side control, invented harmonic elimination, solved braking/grid issues, authored standards, led type tests, drove indigenization, and mentored engineers—shaping India’s 3‑ph traction modernization.

Grade: Outstanding (highest possible grade). I pursued doctoral research under Prof. Rik W. De Doncker. The work unified converter design, topology evaluation, and seamless grid/UPS operation, filling a critical gap in reliable integration. Key innovations included a AI design tool & embedded real‑time digital twin, enabling predictive operation and higher utilization. Validated through extensive simulations and prototypes, the results were academically rigorous and industrially proven.

Grade: Top scorer in Power Electronics & Drives incl. final project. Represented department, played cricket, organized Power Electronics lab, created AutoCAD converter library, and introduced LaTeX for thesis writing. Project: invented new rotor time constant adaptation for vector‑controlled induction motor drives, successfully simulated in TUTSIM. Designed and built one of India’s first IGBT inverters (1992–93), operational 5+ years, with custom PCBs, protection, and system integration.

GATE, India’s premier exam for advanced engineering studies, attracts top B.E./B.Tech graduates nationwide and abroad. My performance placed me among the elite toppers, qualifying for any specialization, including Computer Science at IISc Bangalore. I chose Power Electronics & Drives at IISc, recognizing its multidisciplinary scope and strong computer applications in simulation and programming—perfectly aligning with my interests and long-term vision.

Grade: University Gold Medalist. University Topper across all branch years, once ranked first across the entire university (Engineering, Sciences, others). Served as Student Union President and Class Representative, demonstrating leadership and communication skills; played cricket for the department. Built strong foundation in electrical and interdisciplinary subjects including Power Electronics, Machines, Control Systems, Microprocessors, Programming, and High Voltage Engineering.