Ashok Das Email & Phone Number

Developed and deployed cutting-edge technologies: Smart Nanogrid™ to manage operations of hybrid-source microgrids and Smart AQUAnet™ to manage irrigation & fertigation systems. Developed solutions for DR and VPP for the US utility sector. Made these IoT products simple enough that people with minimal education can run the system, locally or over the cloud. Developed business models to address the issues of sustainable socioeconomic development, with a goal to create livelihood opportunities and develop smart communities. Deployed the solutions across India and in Rwanda. Developed business partners and ecosystem in Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Received multiple awards and recognition for these solutions. Guided the design, development and implementation of Smart Village Scheme for Rural Development, Jharkhand State Government, India. Conducted assessment of renewable energy implementation and policy landscape in Odisha; analyzed the issues, gaps, and opportunities in Odisha on current policy, regulatory/legal framework, and financing mechanisms. Worked with disadvantaged communities in India, Africa, and the USA to bring justice, equity, and inclusive development through access to energy and water for livelihood generation. Conducted extensive on-the-ground surveys and research; assessed the needs and requirements of these communities, developed & deployed solutions for them and impacted their socioeconomic status. Developed Theory of Change encompassing the seventeen sustainable development goals and SunMoksha’s principles and doctrine for socioeconomic development. Working with the native American communities as well as Low- and Moderate-Income communities in USA.Established research partnerships with universities in USA, UK, and India to develop Cyber-Physical-Social (CPS) Models for Rural Development. Co-authored over a dozen research papers to disseminate and share the research outcomes globally.

Fremont, California, Us

Leading a team for simulation-enabled design and development of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Driving a cultural shift towards simulation and virtual prototyping to develop the products better, faster, and cheaper. Leading the initiative on Digital Twins for the manufacturing equipment and semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Digital Remote Monitoring and Verification (dMRV). Created a report on "Digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Systems for Access to Electricity in Off-grid Areas."

Vienna, At

Provided mentoring and coaching for business, technology and investment to companies requesting funding from Private Fund Advisory Network (PFAN, a program under REEEP, USAID and ICETT) for renewable energy project that is financially viable, socially responsible and environmentally beneficial. Helped companies formulate strategy, develop business plans and prepare pitch for investor forum, and raise funds.

Berhampur, Odisha, In

Headed the Renewable Energy Group at the institute. Set up and managed Living Laboratory and Renewable Energy Center of Excellence. Developed RE Curriculum for senior undergraduates and post graduate students. Conducted immersion classes for students and faculty on renewable energy and sustainable rural development. Defined and guided several student projects on renewable energy, IoT and software.

Tampa, Fl, Us

Conceived, developed and delivered a course on Integration of IoT & IT in RE Microgrids & Entrepreneurship. The course was conducted in a group setting to learn by reflecting on doing, and, understand the challenges of developing new solutions and services through innovation and entrepreneurship. It included group projects on developing business plans for microgrids and other energy solutions in the USA and around the globe.

Washington, Dc, Us

Consulted to World Bank's infoDev and UK-DFID to design and implement a Climate Innovation Center (CIC) for India to develop climate technology innovation capacity at the grassroots, accelerate transfer and commercialization of climate technologies, and foster entrepreneurship in the space. Identified the most critical gaps facing SME innovation in through an intensive, in-country stakeholder engagement. Developed and implementing resulting business plan to address the gaps.More information at:http://www.infodev.org/en/Project.107.htmlhttp://www.infodev.org/en/Topic.19.htmlhttp://www.infodev.org/en/TopicHighlights.19.htmlhttp://www.infodev.org/en/Article.644.htmlhttp://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/News-Stories/2009/UK-backs-move-to-champion-cleaner-climate-technology

On-the-ground execution at village sites to understand, identify and resolve operational and technical issues in biomass-based decentralized power plants and micro/mini-grid distribution system. Worked with rural customers and mobile-tower infrastructure companies to understand their requirement to provide the right solutions. Streamlined financial control, developed business plans and interfaced with investors and partners to bring funding into the company. Successfully brought in a corporate investor.

Heliux Technology designs and manufactures state-of-the-art production equipment to enable fabrication of low-cost solar modules from silicon solar cells. It also designs manufacturing systems and provides turn-key module lines.

Us

Country Manager of the India subsidiary of a Silicon-Valley start-up, Aquest Systems. Developed controls software and hardware for Aquest's AMHS – Automated Material Handling System.Chartered the India operation to develop controls software, embedded controller, and mechanical product design for an innovative AHMS (Automated Material Handling Systems) product. Managed inter-disciplinary global team and developed enterprise software and embedded hardware for automation of FOUP movement in Fabs. Designed and implemented the best model for Aquest’s India organization, saving significant operational cost for the company and develop the software on time and within budget. Deployed the product at beta customer site. Instrumented the winning of the very first customer through accelerated product development by proactively defining and implementing the right strategy for a balanced ‘captive’ vs. ‘outsource’ model. As MD of Aquest India, managed the HR operations attracting talents, managed offshore partners, supervised operations and administration, and managed STPI processes.

Santa Clara, Ca, Us

Established and managed a multidisciplinary global CAE team providing solutions and services for design of semiconductor equipment, development of simulation tools/software, and virtual prototyping. Worked on a range of process equipment - PVD, CVD, RTP, ALD, ECP, Etch and CMP. Helped set-up Applied’s initial core engineering group in India.Guided the design, optimization, and improvement of wafer processing chambers through Modeling & Simulation, resulting in savings in millions of dollars in development cost and months-to-years of design cycle time. Implemented several innovative and differentiating engineering solutions to meet product design challenges – hold several patents. Worked on a range of process equipment - PVD, CVD, RTP, ALD, ECP, Etch and CMP. As an intrapreneur, started an initiative on modeling and simulation, established a center of excellence for modeling, and made simulation a key step in the product development process. Established and managed a multidisciplinary global team providing modeling & simulation services to AMAT product development. Hired, coached, and developed high-caliber, global expert team for fluid flow, heat transfer, stress analysis, chemical reactions, plasma physics and feature-scale modeling. Conceived and guided the development of a simplified software to bring high-end simulation to practicing design engineers. Drove a cultural shift towards acceptance of concurrent engineering, simulation, and virtual prototyping to design the products better, faster, and cheaper. Instituted processes and software tools to achieve ‘first time right’ product design & development, resulting in better design practices and methodologies at AMAT.

Ca, Us

Explored a novel solution to enhance efficiency of steam condensers. Manufactured and experimentally tested various types of condenser tubes of hydrophobic-coatings. Developed data-acquisition techniques, data-reduction methods, and analytical/numerical models.

Worked on the design and analysis of pulse combustion reactors for clean coal and waste-to-energy conversion.

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

M.Tech., Mechanical Engineering

B. Tech., Mechanical Engineering