• CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Ramamoorthy Ramesh

Rice University

Vice President for Research

Ramamoorthy Ramesh is an internationally recognized leader in materials science and physics, with applications to energy. As vice president for research, Ramesh oversees Rice's internal and external research ventures. He partners with Rice’s senior leadership — together with deans, faculty and staff — to bolster the university’s research infrastructure and works to propel productivity and impact to new heights. Prior to joining Rice, Ramesh held a number of leadership positions University of California at Berkeley, including the Purnendu Chatterjee Chair in Energy Technologies, director of the Berkeley Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Institute, founding director of the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, deputy director of science and technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and associate laboratory director at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. On the SunShot Initiative, Ramesh worked under former energy secretary and Nobel laureate Steven Chu to lead a $300 million-a-year initiative aimed at bringing the cost of solar electricity down to grid parity, without the assistance of federal or state subsidies. He set the science and technology agenda, established the funding priorities and oversaw the solar research and development activities at the U.S. national laboratories. The program has been lauded for bringing solar electricity into large-scale deployment around the world. In his role at Oak Ridge, Ramesh oversaw one of the nation’s largest research and development programs in materials and physical sciences, energy and engineering, computational sciences, biological and environmental science, neutron science and global security. The laboratory’s annual research portfolio at the time was about $1.5 billion. Ramesh earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Madras University, a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and a master’s and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to returning to Berkeley in 2004, Ramesh was a member of the technical staff at Bell Communications Research, and served as an associate professor, professor and eventually distinguished University Professor in materials science and engineering at the University of Maryland. Ramesh has more than 600 publications and 98,000-plus citations. He has given more than 300 invited/plenary/keynote talks and received many honors. 

Sessions With Ramamoorthy Ramesh

Tuesday, 19 March

  • 11:00am - 11:30am (CST) / 19/mar/2024 04:00 pm - 19/mar/2024 04:30 pm

    Innovation Odyssey: Evaluating the journey from lab to market
    Innovation & Technology

    Join experts as they share insights, challenges and successes encountered along the innovation pathway for critical energy transition technologies. Delve into the intricacies of technology transfer, commercialization strategies and the dynamic interplay between research, development and market adoption. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, seasoned innovator, investor or innovation enthusiast, this session promises to inspire, inform and ignite your passion for driving impactful innovation from lab to marketplace.

Thursday, 21 March

  • 03:30pm - 04:00pm (CST) / 21/mar/2024 08:30 pm - 21/mar/2024 09:00 pm

    The U.S.-China Innovation Race

    Gain a deeper understanding of the evolving U.S.-China innovation rivalry and its significance for the future during this insightful discussion. As these global powerhouses compete to lead in technological advancements, we'll explore the driving forces, key developments and potential implications of this innovation race. From breakthroughs in artificial intelligence to advancements in semiconductor technology to competition for human capital and the protection of intellectual property, our panelists will provide valuable insights into the competitive landscape and its impact on industries, economies and global dynamics.  

Friday, 22 March

  • 09:00am - 09:40am (CST) / 22/mar/2024 02:00 pm - 22/mar/2024 02:40 pm

    Technology in a Competitive World

    Innovation & Technology

    Rapid technological advancement is reshaping global power, making control over key new technologies critical to the course of international politics and commerce. Access to leading-edge semiconductors will drive competitiveness in artificial intelligence and supercomputing with massive military implications. Despite large investments in areas such a solar energy, the U.S. is in a race to catch up to China on clean energy technology. Leadership in EVs will depend on semiconductors, mineral supply chains, charging infrastructure and cleantech deployment. How will this race for technological dominance affect global politics, security and power in the coming decades? How will political and commercial pressures affect industrial policy, subsidies and trade barriers?  

Agenda