IEEE Honors Global Dream Team of Innovators

Meet the recipients of the 2026 IEEE Medals—the organization’s highest-level honors. Presented on behalf of the IEEE Board of Directors, these medals recognize innovators whose work has shaped modern technology across disciplines including AI, education, and semiconductors.The medals will be presented at the IEEE Honors Ceremony in April in New York City. View the full list of 2026 recipients on the IEEE Awards website, and follow IEEE Awards on LinkedIn for news and updates.IEEE MEDAL OF HONORSponsor: IEEEJensen HuangNvidiaSanta Clara, Calif. “For leadership in the development of graphics processing units and their application to scientific computing and artificial intelligence.”IEEE FRANCES E. ALLEN MEDALSponsor: IBMLuis von AhnDuolingoPittsburgh“For contributions to the advancement of societal improvement and education through innovative technology.”IEEE ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL MEDALSponsor: Nokia Bell Labs Scott J. ShenkerUniversity of California, Berkeley“For contributions to Internet architecture, network resource allocation, and software-defined networking.”IEEE JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE MEDAL IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONSSponsor: Mani L. BhaumikCo-recipients: Erik Dahlman Stefan ParkvallJohan Sköld EricssonStockholm“For contributions to and leadership in the research, development, and standardization of cellular wireless communications.”IEEE MILDRED DRESSELHAUS MEDALSponsor: GoogleKaren Ann PanettaTufts UniversityMedford, Mass.“For contributions to computer vision and simulation algorithms, and for leadership in developing programs to promote STEM careers.”IEEE EDISON MEDALSponsor: The Edison Medal FundEric SwansonPIXCEL Inc.MIT“For pioneering contributions to biomedical imaging, terrestrial optical communications and networking, and inter-satellite optical links.”IEEE MEDAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY TECHNOLOGIESSponsor: Toyota Motor Corp.Wei-Jen LeeUniversity of Texas at Arlington“For contributions to advancing electrical safety in the workplace, integrating renewable energy and grid modernization for climate change mitigation.”IEEE FOUNDERS MEDALSponsor: IEEE FoundationMarian Rogers CroakGoogleReston, Va.“For leadership in communication networks, including acceleration of digital equity, responsible Artificial Intelligence, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion.”IEEE RICHARD W. HAMMING MEDALSponsor: Qualcomm, Inc.Muriel MédardMIT“For contributions to coding for reliable communications and networking.”IEEE NICK HOLONYAK, JR. MEDAL FOR SEMICONDUCTOR OPTOELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIESSponsor: Friends of Nick Holonyak, Jr.Steven P. DenBaars University of California, Santa Barbara“For seminal contributions to compound semiconductor optoelectronics, including high-efficiency visible light-emitting diodes, lasers, and LED displays.”IEEE MEDAL FOR INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGYSponsor: IEEE Engineering Medicine and Biology SocietyRosalind W. Picard MIT“For pioneering contributions to wearable affective computing for health and wellbeing.”IEEE JACK S. KILBY SIGNAL PROCESSING MEDALSponsor: AppleBiing-Hwang “Fred” JuangGeorgia Tech“For contributions to signal modeling, coding, and recognition for speech communication.”IEEE/RSE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL MEDALSponsor: ARM, Ltd.Paul B. CorkumUniversity of Ottawa“For the development of the recollision model for strong field light–matter interactions leading to the field of attosecond science.”IEEE JAMES H. MULLIGAN, JR. EDUCATION MEDALSponsor: IEEE Life Members Fund and MathWorksJames H. McClellanGeorgia Tech“For fundamental contributions to electrical and computer engineering education through innovative digital signal processing curriculum development.”IEEE JUN-ICHI NISHIZAWA MEDALSponsor: IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal FundEric R. FossumDartmouth CollegeHanover, N.H.“For the invention, development, and commercialization of the CMOS image sensor.”IEEE ROBERT N. NOYCE MEDALSponsor: Intel Corp.Chris Malachowsky NvidiaSanta Clara, Calif.“For pioneering parallel computing architectures and leadership in semiconductor design that transformed artificial intelligence, scientific research, and accelerated computing.”IEEE DENNIS J. PICARD MEDAL FOR RADAR TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONSSponsor: RTXYoshio YamaguchiNiigata UniversityJapan“For contributions to polarimetric synthetic aperture radar imaging and its utilization.”IEEE MEDAL IN POWER ENGINEERINGSponsors: IEEE Industry Applications, Industrial Electronics, Power Electronics, and Power & Energy societiesFang Zheng Peng University of Pittsburgh“For contributions to Z-Source and modular multi-level converters for distribution and transmission networks.”IEEE SIMON RAMO MEDALSponsor: Northrop Grumman Corp.Michael D. Griffin LogiQ, Inc.Arlington, Va.“For leadership in national security, civil, and commercial systems engineering and development of elegant design principles.”IEEE JOHN VON NEUMANN MEDALSponsor: IBMDonald D. ChamberlinIBMSan Jose, Calif.“For contributions to database query languages, particularly Structured Query Language, which powers most of the world’s data management and analysis systems.”