03.15.18
Imec presented its annual Lifetime of Innovation Award to Dr. Irwin Jacobs, founding chairman and CEO emeritus of Qualcomm. The annual industry honor is presented to the individual who has significantly advanced the field of semiconductor technology. The formal presentation will be made at the global Imec Technology Forum (ITF) in May in Belgium.
“Irwin Jacobs’ many technological contributions laid the groundwork for creating the mobile industry and markets that we know today,” Luc Van den hove, president and CEO of imec, said. “Under his leadership, Qualcomm developed two-way mobile satellite communications and tracking systems deemed the most advanced in the world. He pioneered spread-spectrum technology and systems using CDMA (code division multiple access), which became a digital standard for cellular phone communications. Together, these technologies opened mobile communications to the global consumer market.”
Jacobs began his career first as an assistant and then associate professor of electrical engineering at MIT and, later, as professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California in San Diego. While at MIT, he co-authored Principles of Communication Engineering, a textbook still in use.
He began his corporate life as a cofounder of Linkabit, which developed satellite encryption devices. In 1985, he co-founded Qualcomm, serving as CEO until 2005 and chairman through 2009. His numerous awards include the National Medal of Technology, the Marconi Prize, and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
“Irwin Jacobs’ many technological contributions laid the groundwork for creating the mobile industry and markets that we know today,” Luc Van den hove, president and CEO of imec, said. “Under his leadership, Qualcomm developed two-way mobile satellite communications and tracking systems deemed the most advanced in the world. He pioneered spread-spectrum technology and systems using CDMA (code division multiple access), which became a digital standard for cellular phone communications. Together, these technologies opened mobile communications to the global consumer market.”
Jacobs began his career first as an assistant and then associate professor of electrical engineering at MIT and, later, as professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California in San Diego. While at MIT, he co-authored Principles of Communication Engineering, a textbook still in use.
He began his corporate life as a cofounder of Linkabit, which developed satellite encryption devices. In 1985, he co-founded Qualcomm, serving as CEO until 2005 and chairman through 2009. His numerous awards include the National Medal of Technology, the Marconi Prize, and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.