B. Jayant Baliga is a figure synonymous with power semiconductor devices, having invented the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).

His innovation is key to the control and conversion of electrical power, with applications in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and efficient electrical grids.

As a distinguished professor at North Carolina State University, Baliga's work has profoundly impacted the energy sector, saving consumers around the world billions of dollars annually in electrical energy costs.

He has received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his contributions.