Amid the technological revolution of energy and power, an alumnus from the College of Engineering, Shantou University has grown into a top industry leader through over two decades of dedication. He is Zheng Dawei, graduate of the 1997 Electronic Information Engineering program and currently Vice President of Power Quality R&D, Asia Pacific at Eaton Corporation.

Zheng Dawei’s aspiration for energy and power took root in the classrooms and laboratories of the College of Engineering. During his undergraduate years, he was deeply influenced by the rigorous, pragmatic academic ethos of the faculty. Rather than merely cramming theoretical knowledge, professors integrated real-world power electronics industry cases into teaching, guiding students to align expertise with industrial demands.

In particular, Professor Zhuang Zhemin’s course on Microcomputer Principles and Interface Technology seamlessly merged theory with hands-on experiments, sparking Zheng’s intense interest in technological R&D and fostering his research mindset of grounding theories in practice.

Zheng spent nearly all his spare time in laboratories. Together with his classmates, he delved into research projects and refined practical solutions. While overcoming technical hurdles time and again, he forged profound friendships and cultivated core professional qualities: focused research and teamwork.“That pure period of study laid a rock-solid foundation for my subsequent R&D career,” Zheng recalled. The college’s spirit of pragmatism, innovation and global vision, alongside the philosophy of “serving the nation through technology”, took root in his heart and shaped the core values guiding his career.

After graduation, Zheng devoted himself wholeheartedly to power electronics and energy management, starting as a junior R&D engineer. Over the past 20-odd years, he has stayed committed to energy power R&D, seized opportunities brought by global energy transition and smart grid development, and specialized in core fields including power quality and energy storage technology.

His ascent from entry-level engineer to senior R&D executive was far from smooth. He confronted challenges such as rapid technological iteration and slow commercialization of R&D projects, yet persisted in deep technical research and experience accumulation. Drawing on solid expertise and robust problem-solving capabilities, he led his team to break through multiple core technical bottlenecks. He spearheaded the launch of a series of world-leading new energy products including UPS systems, energy storage converters and solid-state transformers (SSTs), which are widely deployed in data centers, new energy power stations, industrial power supply and other key scenarios.

Now serving as Vice President of Power Quality R&D for Eaton Asia Pacific, Zheng oversees R&D management and technology strategy for the company’s power supply and energy management business lines. He is an expert on the Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Commission, a director of the China Power Supply Society (CPSS), and a committee member of the China Electrotechnical Society. Holding over 50 Chinese invention patents and 20 U.S. invention patents, he was recognized as a High-Caliber Overseas Talent of Shenzhen. Additionally, he works as a senior professional technology manager and part-time professor at Chang’an University, advancing industrial technological progress and talent cultivation with his professional expertise.

In Zheng’s view, global energy transition is accelerating, with artificial intelligence and digital technologies deeply integrated into the power and energy sector, opening unprecedented development prospects for power quality, energy storage conversion, intelligent power supply and related fields.“Scenarios such as AI data centers, photovoltaic energy storage and microgrids impose far higher requirements on the stability and efficiency of power supply,” he noted.

Regarding the industry’s future trajectory, Zheng identified high efficiency, intelligence and green development as core trends, with flexible power transmission & distribution, solid-state transformers and integrated photovoltaic-storage systems set to become key breakthrough technologies. Meanwhile, the industry demands interdisciplinary talents armed with both theoretical expertise and practical capabilities.“Practitioners must keep pace with technological upgrades and pursue continuous learning and innovation to capture new opportunities amid the transformation of the energy industry,” he said.

Reflecting on more than 20 years in the workforce, Zheng shared: “There are no shortcuts in technological R&D. Only sustained focus and perseverance can carry you far.” When facing setbacks and challenges at work, he maintains a calm mindset, regarding every difficulty as valuable training for technical growth. Amid his heavy workload of R&D administration, he balances career and personal life, upholding a habit of lifelong learning to continuously upgrade his professional competence and comprehensive literacy.

“Self-worth is not achieved through sudden breakthroughs, but through steady accumulation day in and day out,” Zheng stated. Only by delving deep into one’s position and creating industrial value via technological innovation can one build a fulfilling professional life.

Years after graduation, Zheng always keeps the College of Engineering close to his heart. He is grateful for the comprehensive training from his alma mater and the earnest guidance of his professors. He believes the college’s rigorous academic atmosphere and practice-oriented education philosophy have shaped his down-to-earth, pursuit-of-perfection work attitude.“The college’s training model prioritizing fundamental capabilities, engineering thinking and hands-on practice aligns perfectly with industrial demands for engineering professionals,” he expressed sincerely.

He offered earnest advice to current students: “Cherish your precious campus years, master professional theoretical knowledge thoroughly, take initiative to enter laboratories and participate in research practices to translate theories into hands-on competence. Sustain curiosity and thirst for knowledge in your major, develop abilities in autonomous learning, reflective summarization and teamwork, and dare to experiment without fearing mistakes. For career planning, pinpoint your specialized track, dig deep into niche sectors and accumulate experience steadily. When stepping into the workplace, set clear development goals while staying composed, and tackle challenges with solid professional capabilities.”

As a world-leading intelligent power management enterprise, Eaton fosters an internal innovation culture that empowers engineers with premium R&D environments. While driving the end-to-end launch of new product lines from scratch, Zheng has accumulated extensive experience in technology commercialization — including evaluating market feasibility of technologies, assembling cross-functional R&D teams, and rolling out innovation within large corporate frameworks. Such insights are highly instructive for STU engineering students with entrepreneurial aspirations.

Furthermore, Eaton Corporation consistently opens R&D internships and campus recruitment positions targeting majors such as power electronics, energy management and electrical R&D for Shantou University students, building a talent matching bridge between university and enterprise to support graduates in securing high-quality employment.

From a student at Shantou University to a leading R&D authority in energy and power, Zheng Dawei has interpreted the spirit of STU Engineering through two decades of unwavering dedication. His story inspires all STU engineering students to stay grounded, pursue excellence in their specialized fields, and write brilliant careers through technological innovation.