Keynotes

Professor Rajan Ambat

Technical University of Denmark

Biography: Dr. Rajan Ambat is currently Professor of Corrosion and Surface Engineering at Division of Materials and Surface Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark. He is also the Manager for the Centre for Electronic Corrosion (CELCORR) and CreCon Industrial Consortium on climatic reliability of electronics at DTU and Research Manager for the Corrosion node of Danish Hydrocarbon Research and Technology Centre. Key research activity in his group is on humidity robustness of electronics focussing on understanding the effect at component, PCBA, and Systems level, elucidating failure mechanisms, controlling parameters and models, and intrinsic and extrinsic methods to improve reliability. Presently he is also the Chairman for the Working Party on Corrosion reliability of electronic devices under European Federation of Corrosion. He is part of the editorial board for various corrosion and electrochemistry journals and held visiting professorship and other academic positions/responsibilities in many universities. Presently he is Honorary Professor of Amity University, India. He has published more than 250 scientific papers, patents, and other contributions.

This talk provides an overview of how corrosion of electronics, especially for power electronics, due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions affects its performance as part of various green transition technologies and some information on prevention possibilities.

Dr. Suzanne Costello

Forensic Eyes Ltd

Biography: Suzanne has a physics background and an Engineering Doctorate in microelectronics testing. She has worked in industry for over 12 years investigating the root-cause of failures, specialising in electronics. Suzanne is a published author and experienced technical presenter. She was the first female chair of the International Microelectronics, Assembly and Packaging Society in the UK (IMAPS-UK) and is currently a trustee. Suzanne has been on the Scottish Council of the Aerospace Defence and Security (ADS) trade association where she represented SMEs working in the Aerospace sector at a select committee hearing at Westminster.

Hermeticity is often considered a straightforward pass/fail metric, yet when it comes to ultra-low leak rates in critical applications—such as medical implants, space electronics, and MEMS devices—standard testing methods may not tell the full story.

This keynote will break down the fundamentals of hermeticity, exploring the three key leak paths: leak channels, permeation, and outgassing. We’ll take the theory of leak rate quantification and show how it translates into real-world measurement challenges, particularly for low-cavity volume packages with stringent vacuum requirements.

But can we truly prove an ultra-low leak rate? External measurement techniques have well-documented limitations, and yet they remain the industry standard. We’ll discuss the gaps in current test methodologies, the challenges in meeting stringent performance requirements and how in-situ approaches offer a path to more meaningful validation.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of leak rate quantification and why design-stage consideration of hermeticity testing is crucial for ensuring performance over time. If you assume standard tests are enough, this talk might just change your mind.

Thor Højlund Olsen

Director, Discovery

Demant

Biography: Thor is a seasoned leader in innovation and R&D with over 15 years of experience in the hearing healthcare industry. Thor drives cutting-edge advancements in the hearing healthcare industry by combining strategic vision with a passion for pushing technological boundaries. Known for fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, Thor has a proven track record of transforming emerging trends into impactful solutions that enhance product performance and user experiences.