­An afternoon filled with encounters, music, and appreciation—in honor of Prof. Konstantin Papailiou

What a celebration! On October 9, our High-Voltage Hall at TU Dresden became a place for gathering, music, and personal appreciation for Konstantin Papailiou.

As the host, it was a great pleasure for me to organize this special occasion with so many of his colleagues and friends.

Konstantin has shaped the fields of high-voltage, cable, and overhead line technology for decades. His work combines scientific excellence with industrial experience and international commitment. As President of CIGRE, he embodies cross-border collaboration and the conviction that we can only overcome the challenges of energy technology by working together.

In my welcoming remarks, I focused above all on the more personal side of his life’s work: a university professor who inspires students to love his field, a friend who opens doors and encourages young people, and a person whose curiosity extends far beyond his own discipline.

Our project choir—composed of former members of the Kreuzer Choir and brought together especially for this occasion—provided a moving musical opening under the direction of Matthias Bretschneider. The choir’s origins, stemming from Konstantin’s interest in Greek history, music, and the Philhellenes, demonstrate how curiosity fosters connections between people and cultures. Prof. Steffen Großmann then paid tribute to Konstantin’s impressive life journey with a laudatory speech.

The event also featured a wide range of technical topics: In three fascinating presentations, Dr. Stefan Steevens discussed high-temperature conductors for overhead lines, Dr. Christiane Bär addressed silicone elastomers for high-voltage applications, and Dr. Samuel Ansorge explored cable assemblies in the transition from AC to HVDC. During the tour of our laboratories and the convivial gathering that followed in the high-voltage hall, there was plenty of opportunity for personal interactions.

Konstantin is particularly passionate about inspiring the next generation in energy technology, passing on knowledge and experience, and encouraging young people to take responsibility for the future. And so, students from the graduating classes also happily participated in the celebration.

Dear Konstantin, it was a great pleasure for my team and me to honor you with this colloquium. Thank you for your scientific insights, your enthusiasm, your friendship, and everything you have done for our field and its next generation.

My heartfelt thanks go to all those involved, the speakers, our project choir, and all the guests. A very special thank you goes to my team at the Chair, who planned and organized this honorary colloquium with great dedication, care, and passion, thereby making it possible in the first place. I am very proud of this joint achievement.

#TUDresden #IEEH #HighVoltageEngineering #EnergyEngineering #CIGRE #promotion of early-career researchers