IEEE Medal of Honor: recognising contributions to science and engineering

In this interview with Electronic Specifier’s Sheryl Miles, IEEE President and CEO Kathleen Kramer discusses what the award is, its evolution over the years, and how IEEE continues to encourage an environment where researchers and technologists can pursue transformational work.

What is the Medal of Honor?

The IEEE Medal of Honor is awarded to individuals or teams of up to three people who have made exceptional contributions or had extraordinary careers in technology, engineering, and science.

Kramer explains: “The IEEE Medal of Honor was established in 1917 to acknowledge the significant advancements made in radio technology and so has been IEEE’s highest award since several decades before we became known as IEEE. Over the last 108 years, it has been awarded to some of the greatest scientific and technological minds in history. The award now acknowledges the outstanding contributions made to fields of science, engineering and technology, and celebrates the impact new innovations have made to society.

“Previous winners have included Mildred Dresselhaus, the ‘Queen of Carbon Science,’ whose research paved the way for the rise of nanotechnology, as well as Vinton G. Cerf, one of the ‘Fathers of the Internet.’ It has also honoured scientific achievements, such as the computed tomography (CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and pacemaker.”

To be considered, nominees must demonstrate extraordinary achievements that have significantly impacted society or the profession. The selection criteria include the significance of the achievement, originality, impact on society and the profession, as well as relevant publications and patents.

Amplifying innovation through recognition

Not only is the Medal of Honor a celebration of individual achievements, it is also a way to highlight the broader impact of engineering, science, and technology.

“With the Medal of Honor, the IEEE’s aim is to not only raise public awareness of the significant individual achievements but of the role that major advances and contributions to engineering, science, and technology play across the globe in transforming our lives,” Kramer explained.

The award serves as a source of inspiration that recognises intellectual curiosity and the continued discovery of new innovations that reshape and improve the world.

A $2 million prize

In 2025, it was announced that the Medal of Honor’s monetary prize would raise to a huge $2 million. This decision was taken to further solidify IEEEs position as one of the most prestigious technology-focused awards.

“By increasing the recognition, we aim to increase the power of the message conveyed by the award. It is also to add to the honour of the extraordinary individuals who have had an impact on technology, on a global scale.”

IEEE hopes this increase will inspire greater recognition of technological and scientific innovation, reinforcing its mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

A reflection of changing technological priorities

The IEEE Medal of Honor has evolved over the years in-line with shifting priorities in technology and society. Initially it was established to recognise key advances in radio technologies. Since then, it has grown to acknowledge contributions across various fields, including power, computing, and communication.

The 2025 laureate, Henry Samueli was recognised for developing and commercialising analog and mixed-signal communications system circuits, which contributed to the growth of broadband communication, wired, and wireless networking technologies. As an electrical engineering professor, Samueli conceived digital signal processing architectures for broadband communications chips, and after founding Broadcom, he built the world’s first digital cable set-top-box modem chipset.

“Henry Samueli’s vision and communications technology innovations spurred the development of products used by nearly every person around the world,” says Kramer. “He helped revolutionise how the world is connected, fostered cultural and economic paradigm shifts of countless industries, and positively changed how we do everything today.”

Creating an environment for transformational work

Encouraging a culture of innovation and collaboration is a keen area of focus of the IEEE Medal of Honor, where open science and transparency in research is paramount.

“The IEEE is passionate about open science and is constantly encouraging those in the community to uphold these principles of transparency,” says Kramer. “By promoting transparent research methods and research integrity, the IEEE aims to cultivate an environment within the scientific community that fosters greater and more innovative discoveries.”

Through widely recognised publications, expert communities, and technical conferences, IEEE provides a platform for sharing expertise and advancing knowledge.

Recognising emerging fields

With technology evolving rapidly, there is a mindfulness within the IEEE of recognising groundbreaking contributions in emerging fields such as quantum computing, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. To ensure the Medal of Honor remains relevant, IEEE has formed a Medal of Honor Search Committee, comprising prominent technology innovators who monitor trends and encourage nominations in these areas.

“By their expertise and our design, they are in a strong position to encourage nominations in these emerging areas and beyond,” explains Kramer.

At the same time, IEEE maintains a balance between celebrating achievements in well-established fields and recognising pioneers in newer or less visible areas of science and technology. To achieve this, the focus remains on the significance of contributions rather than the novelty of a particular field.

“IEEE emphasises the importance of recognising exceptional innovators who have advanced technology for the benefit of humanity. We do consider the global impact and significance of contributions, rather than aiming to celebrate areas of science and technology based upon newness or imposing some other priority among fields and localities.”

Inspiring future generations

Looking ahead, IEEE aims to continue positioning technology and engineering as prestigious fields to inspire both current innovators and the next generation.

“By showcasing science and technology as prestigious fields, the IEEE hopes to inspire intellectual curiosity amongst current innovators, as well as the future generation in a way that aligns with ethics and prioritises advancements in humanity,” says Kramer.

Through its steadfast recognition of individuals who have made profound contributions to technology and science whilst inspiring future generations to push the boundaries, the IEEE reinforces the transformative power of science and engineering in shaping the world.