Welcome Message from ISC Chairman

Dear colleagues and honored guests,

On behalf of the Scientific Committee, it is my great privilege and pleasure to welcome you all to the 8th International Conference on Electric Power Equipment — Switching Technology (ICEPE-ST 2027). We are delighted to gather here in Niigata, Japan, a city of rich culture and warm hospitality, for what promises to be an inspiring and memorable event.

Since its inception, the ICEPE-ST conference series has been wonderfully committed to promoting research and innovation in electric power equipment and switching technology. The conference was first held in Xi'an, China in the autumn of 2011, and has since traveled successfully through Matsue, Japan (2013), Busan, South Korea (2015), Xi'an, China (2017), Kitakyushu, Japan (2019), Seoul, South Korea (2022), and Xiamen, China (2024). To date, it has been held successfully seven times, establishing itself as a truly international forum for academic exchange and collaboration in our power switching technology field.

This year, the conference is held in Niigata, Japan. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the local organizing committee for their tireless efforts and meticulous preparation.

With the rapid development of the economy, society, and science and technology, the field of electric power equipment is facing many new opportunities and demands. Topics such as eco-friendly high-voltage vacuum circuit breaker technology, DC current interruption technology, vacuum interrupter technology, environmentally friendly insulating gases, and smart switching equipment have become new research frontiers. This conference will bring together these cutting-edge topics, providing a platform to showcase the latest research achievements, foster in-depth academic exchange, and spark new ideas. It is our hope that the lively discussions here will enlighten our thinking, explore new research directions, and chart innovative roadmaps for the future.

I look forward with a great anticipation to the lively discussions and fruitful exchanges that will unfold over the coming days. May this conference serve as a bridge — connecting ideas, connecting people, and connecting nations. I wish ICEPE-ST 2027 a complete success, and I wish every delegate good health, happiness, and a wonderful stay in Niigata. Thank you very much.

Jianhua Wang
Chair of the Scientific Committee, ICEPE-ST 2027