| 1968 | Diplom, Technische Universität Wien |
| 1972 | Doktor, Technische Wissenschaften, Technische Universität Wien |
| 1975-1977 | Forschungsaufenthalt, Bell Laboratorien Holmdel, USA |
| 1976 | Lehrbefugnis für das Fach "Physikalische Elektronik", Technische Universität Wien |
| 1979-1988 | o. Universitätsprofessor für Experimentalphysik, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck |
| 1988-1993 | C4-Professor für Halbleiterphysik, Technische Universität München |
| 1988-1993 | Direktor, Walter-Schottky-Institut, Technische Universität München |
| seit 1993 | o. Universitätsprofessor für Festkörperelektronik, Technische Universität Wien |
| 2003-2008 | Geschäftsführer, Austrian Research Centers GmbH - ARC |
| | Zahlreiche Auslandsaufenthalte und Gastprofessuren |
| 1980-1988 | Teacher, Headmaster, Secondary School No1, Valmiera |
| 1988-1990 | Desk officer, Head of Department, Ministry of Education of Latvia |
| 1990-1993 | Minister of Education of Latvia |
| 1993-1994 | Member of Parliament of Latvia, Chairman, Budget and Finance Committee |
| 1994-1995 | Minister of Finance of Latvia |
| 1995-1997 | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia, Republic of Estonia |
| 1998-2003 | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia, European Union |
| 2003-2004 | Deputy Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, responsible for Latvia's relations with the European Union |
| 2004 | Head of Cabinet of the Member of European Commission, Kalniete |
| 2004-2010 | Member of European Commission, Commissioner for Energy |
| since 2010 | Commissioner for Development |
