Global conference RT25 Winds of change: Powering what’s next
October 27 - 30 2025
Join us for RT25, OPAL-RT’s 17th annual conference, at the Thompson Hotel in Chicago, from October 27th to 30th. RT25 is bringing together global leaders, engineers, and innovators in real-time simulation. Set in the dynamic city of Chicago, this premier event combines keynotes, technical sessions, hands-on workshops, and live demos to explore emerging trends like PHIL, Power System Simulation, and Cybersecurity.

Type
Annual events
Industry
Automotive, Autonomy, Energy, Aerospace, Power electronics, Power systems
Location
RT25 Global User Conference
Winds of change: Powering what’s next.
As electrification and digital transformation accelerate across sectors, engineers in every industry face a common challenge: how to design, validate, and deliver smarter and resilient systems, faster than ever before.
Winds of Change: Powering What’s Next, celebrates this journey of innovation across energy, automotive, aerospace, academics and industrial domains. At this year’s RT User Conference in Chicago, we’re bringing together a community of forward-thinking engineers and researchers who are shaping the future through collaboration and bold ideas.
Our past RT events brought together 6,000+ in-person and virtual participants from around the world, all tuning in for cutting-edge insights shared by speakers representing 40+ countries and the forefront of real-time innovation.

Attendees
Why should you attend OPAL-RT’s global user conference?

Ground breaking innovations
Stay ahead with the latest innovations in power systems and electronics. Gain firsthand insight into the future of energy and transportation.

Network with industry leaders
Build valuable connections with top professionals, exchange insights, and open doors for new career or business opportunities.

See live demos in action
Experience the impact of real-time simulation with live demos showcasing how OPAL-RT is transforming power electronics development.

Gain expert insights
Attend keynotes, panels, and workshops led by industry leaders, offering invaluable knowledge to drive your growth and innovation.
27th October
Training | Workshop
27th October
Welcoming networking reception
28 & 29th October
Global conference
30th October
Argonne National Laboratory tour
Keynote Speakers

President and CTO
Jean Bélanger
As an electrical engineer, Jean co-founded OPAL-RT in 1997 and built it with the vision of bringing high-end real-time simulation tools to all engineers and scientists. Today, under his direction and technological leadership, OPAL-RT has become a world-renowned developer of state-of-the-art real-time simulators capable of simulating all types of mechanical and electrical systems. Prior to founding OPAL-RT, Jean led a successful career at Hydro-Québec in the domain of power system design and simulation, and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Director of Sales, North America
Martin Bélanger
Martin worked at CYME International (1995–2000) as an analyst programmer on electrical simulation software. In 2000, he joined OPAL-RT as a technical support specialist, later moving to sales in 2005, becoming account manager for GE, Pratt & Whitney, ABB, and Rockwell, and channel manager across Europe and Asia. He now leads North American Sales, focusing on major transportation and industrial power accounts.

Director, Grid Modernization Initiative, Energy Institute, Colorado State University
Zongjie Wang
Dr. Zongjie Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University, she also serves as the Director of the Grid Modernization Initiative at Energy Institute. She leads multi-million-dollar projects supported by the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, national labs, ISO New England, MISO, and utility partners, with research focused on coordinated transmission and distribution operations, distributed energy resource modeling, grid resilience, and dynamic market integration. Previously, Dr. Wang served as Associate Director of the Eversource Energy Center at the University of Connecticut with a focus on grid modernization, workforce development, and industrial educational training. She is General Chair of the 57th North American Power Symposium (2025).

Professor of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering at RPI
Jian Sun
Dr. Jian Sun is Professor of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering at RPI, where he also directs the Center for Future Energy Systems. His research focuses on power electronics and energy conversion, notably creating the small-signal sequence immittance theory. An IEEE Fellow, he has held major leadership roles in PELS and received top awards, including the 2013 Modeling and Control Award and 2017 Middlebrook Award.

Division Director – Energy Systems and Infrastructure Assessment at Argonne National Laboratory
Henry Huang
Dr. Zhenyu (Henry) Huang is Argonne Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Energy Systems and Infrastructure Assessment division, leading efforts to advance reliable, affordable, and secure U.S. energy systems. Formerly at PNNL and Washington State University, he has advised the DOE on grid modernization. His research spans HPC, data analytics, and control of power systems. He has 220+ publications and is an IEEE Fellow.
Speakers

Research Associate at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Andreas Bammes

Consultant at Argonne National Laboratory
Sadam Ratrout

Senior R&D Engineer at Sandia National Laboratories
Ujjwol Tamrakar

Principal Engineer at Drive System Design
Akm Arafat, Ph.D.

R&D Manager at ABB
Marcin Szlosek

Assistant Professor at FPU
Sundari Ramabhotla

Founder & CEO at SYNDEM
Dr. Qing-Chang Zhong

Power Electronics PhD Candidate at UBCO
Jared Paull

Research Scientist at Clemson University
Moazzam Nazir

Associate Professor at Polytechnique Montréal
Antoine Lesage-Landry
Become a Speaker at Our Annual User Conference
Share your expertise with a global audience
This event is your chance to share groundbreaking work, exchange ideas, and connect with a global community shaping the future of energy and power systems.
Suggested topics include (but are not limited to):
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Energy Generation & Storage
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Smart Distribution & Microgrids
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Digitalization & Cybersecurity
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Emerging Technologies
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Transportation Electrification
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Power Electronics
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…and any other innovative topics you’re passionate about!
Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your visibility, inspire peers, and help shape the conversation around the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the field.

Sponsor Visibilty
Join us as a sponsor for this year’s edition !
Join our growing list to take full advantage of numerous perks that will showcase your brand, enhance your visibility, strengthen your brand presence, connect you with key industry leaders, and more.

Increase brand awareness
Becoming an RT25 sponsor is a perfect way to increase brand awareness for your organization and promote your products.

Generate high-quality leads
Engage directly with professionals actively seeking solutions, technologies, and collaborations, and turn conversations into opportunities.

Network with a highly qualified audience
Network with industry professionals, academics, researchers, and students from around the world who share an interest for the very latest developments in real-time simulation.

Stay up-to-date on industry trends
Discover our latest technological innovations and concrete applications. Be part of the user community; discuss and exchange best practices.
Previous editions sponsors
Proudly Sponsored by
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Q&A
Find the answers to your questions
Is there a registration fee?
Yes, there are registration fees for specific activities:
RT25 – Workshop / Training (October 27): $50.00 USD
RT25 – Welcome Reception (October 27): Free of charge
RT25 – Conference Days 1 & 2 (October 28–29): $500.00 USD
RT25 – Chicago Activity (Dinner, October 29): $100.00 USD
RT25 – Argonne National Laboratory Tour (October 30): $50.00 USD
(available after clearance of your application)
Where will the conference be held?
Venue: Thompson Chicago by Hyatt
Address: 21 East Bellevue Place, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Public Transit (Most Economical Option):
Take the CTA Blue Line “L” Train directly from O’Hare Airport.
Travel to Clark/Lake station (~41 minutes).
Walk 5 minutes (0.2 miles) to the hotel.
Operates 24/7, with trains every 2–10 minutes depending on time of day.
Alternative Transportation:
Taxi: ~21 minutes (longer during peak traffic).
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Airport Express Van / Shared Shuttle: 45–60 minutes, depending on number of stops.
Can I receive a certificate of attendance?
Yes. Certificates of attendance will be issued in the months following the conference:
October 28–29: Certificate for the global conference.
October 27: Separate certificate for the Workshop/Training (if attended).
Will the sessions be recorded?
No. The sessions will not be recorded. RT25 is a high-level technical conference, and we wish to maintain exclusivity for those attending in person.
Will the PowerPoint presentations be shared?
Yes. As in previous years, all conference materials will be made available in our Resource Center one week after the event. Simply search for “RT25” in the search bar.
Can I get a hotel room discount?
Yes. We are pleased to offer a 15% discount at Hyatt Hotels in Chicago through our partnership. Please contact us at lea.madit@opal-rt.com to receive your exclusive Hyatt Leverage Code.
Can I receive a visa invitation letter from OPAL-RT Technologies?
Yes. Official visa invitation letters are available for registered and paid participants only.
These letters do not involve any financial responsibility from the Organizing Committee.
Once you have completed your registration and full payment, please contact lea.madit@opal-rt.com to request your visa invitation letter.
Plan your visit
Connect with us
Our representatives will be available during our User Conference to answer your questions. Contact us to schedule a personalized demo before, during, or after the conference. We are looking forward to meeting you!

President, CEO & CTO
Jean Bélanger

Vice-President Sales & Marketing
Pierre-François Allaire

Vice President Engineering and Electrical Expertise
Jean-Nicolas Paquin

Sales Director, North America
Martin Bélanger
Events
We have other events that might interest you
Looking for more opportunities to connect, learn, or get inspired? Explore the full lineup of upcoming events.

Europe
09/15/2025
Training | Real-time simulation: A key enabler for the practical control design of grid-forming controlled power electronic converters

09/17/2025
Tutorial: Getting started with blackbox model integration in HYPERSIM

Asia & Oceania
09/18/2025
iTEC INDIA 2025

09/23/2025