The Nagamori Award is an international distinction that recognizes outstanding research and technological contributions in motors, drives, and related control technologies. These technologies are fundamental to electrification and energy efficiency, as motor-driven systems account for more than half of global electricity consumption. For Tomislav Dragičević, the award is an important recognition as it highlights his long-standing contributions to making electrical drive systems smarter, more autonomous, and able to support future energy systems.
“The award means a lot to me because it recognizes a research direction I have been developing for many years. The central idea has been to make power converters and motor drives increasingly intelligent and autonomous, so that they can adapt to changing conditions, diagnose their own health, and ultimately support the wider power system. It is very rewarding to see this work recognized internationally,” he says.
From passive Consumers to intelligent Grid Partners
The award particularly recognizes Dragičević’s contributions to edge-intelligent power electronics for self-tuning, self-diagnosing motor drives, where learning and decision-making capabilities are embedded directly into power converters and motor drives. His research has led to advances in self-tuning control systems, self-commissioning diagnostics, and more recently methods that enable motor-driven systems such as pumps, fans, compressors, and heat pumps to quantify and provide flexibility to the power grid.The long-term vision is to transform motor drives from passive electricity consumers into intelligent partners of the power system.
“As electrification progresses, power converters and motor drives are becoming much more than interfaces between electricity and physical processes. They can increasingly become intelligent components that actively contribute to the operation and flexibility of the power system,” he explains.
An important aspect of the work has also been translating these concepts from advanced algorithms into experimental hardware and real industrial applications. The international recognition reflects both the scientific impact of Tomislav's research and its relevance for the future development of energy systems.
Strengthening international Visibility
The award also gives international visibility to DTU research at the intersection of power electronics, intelligent control, digitalization and renewable energy systems. For Tomislav, it demonstrates how developments at the component level can contribute directly to the transition towards more flexible and renewable-based energy systems.
“I see the award as recognition of both the scientific work and its potential to shape future energy systems,” he says.
The award ceremony took place in Japan on 6 September 2026.