Q&A: The IEEE president on the $2m Medal of Honor prize

Established in 1917, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Medal of Honor is the highest IEEE award, honouring society-changing achievements such as the creation of the internet and the development of lifesaving medical technologies including the CAT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and pacemaker. For 2025, the IEEE announced that Medal of Honor monetary prize would be increased to $2 million, demonstrating its commitment to fostering critical research and recognising the efforts of valued scientists and the work they have done to benefit humanity. The Engineer caught up with IEEE president and CEO Kathleen Kramer to find out more about the award and the decision to boost the prize money. 

What does the Medal of Honour celebrate?

KK: The IEEE Medal of Honour is the organisation’s highest award. It was first established in 1917 to acknowledge the significant advancements made in radio technology, then at the forefront of our technologies. For the last 108 years, the most important contributors to advances in our fields that span the modern technology world, including power, computing, and communication, have received the Medal in recognition of their critical roles in laying the foundations of modern technology.  It is now considered one of the most prestigious awards in the world.