By Takako Hashimoto, IEEE R10 Director-Elect
The 2024 IEEE Vision, Innovation, and Challenges (VIC) Summit and Honors Ceremony was held on 3 May 2024, at Encore Boston Harbor Hotel. This prestigious event celebrated significant achievements in engineering, science, and technology, emphasizing the IEEE’s mission to advance technological innovation for the benefit of humanity. The event drew over 400 attendees, including 172 members, 49 student members, 21 award recipients, and participants from 23 countries.
The VIC Summit and Honors Ceremony aims to recognize and honor individuals and teams who have made substantial contributions to engineering and technology. These awards are among the highest recognitions bestowed by IEEE, highlighting the exceptional achievements of professionals who have made a lasting impact on technology and society. By fostering a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration, the event promotes the advancement of IEEE’s mission and encourages global cooperation in technological innovation.
The event began with a welcome reception hosted by Akamai Technologies on 2 May 2024. Participants were engaged in an evening of innovation and networking reception setting the stage for the following day’s activities, providing an opportunity for informal discussions and connections.
The second day featured four-panel sessions covering various technological advancements and industry trends. Exhibitions were set up by sponsors and partners, with Boston Dynamics’ dog robot being a major attraction. Photos of award recipients and the IEEE ceremonial board were displayed in the hotel lobby, allowing attendees to celebrate the honorees.
The Honors Ceremony Gala was a key highlight, featuring a red-carpet reception followed by dinner and a dessert reception sponsored by Regions 1 and 2 and the Boston Section. The event recognized several distinguished individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions, including:
- Robert E. Kahn: 2024 IEEE Medal of Honor for contributions to network protocols and the development of the internet.
- Mainspring Energy: 2024 IEEE Spectrum Emerging Technology Award for innovative energy solutions.
- Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD): 2024 IEEE Corporate Innovation Award for advancements in chipset architecture designs.
- Sung Wook Park: 2024 IEEE Honorary Membership Award for expanding the influence of technology in the semiconductor industry.
- Stefan G. Mozar: 2024 IEEE Richard M. Emberson Award for leadership in IEEE Societies and technical communities.
- Tariq S. Durrani: 2024 IEEE Haraden Pratt Award for contributions to education, technical activities, and global connections within IEEE.
- Prof. Fumio Koyama: IEEE Nick Holonyak Jr. Medal for Semiconductor Optoelectronic Technologies.
The announcement of the 2025 VIC Summit to be held in Japan was made at the Honors Ceremony Gala. This upcoming event will highlight the need for substantial cooperation from Japanese volunteers and staff, continuing the tradition of celebrating excellence and fostering global collaboration in engineering and technology.
The success of the 2024 VIC Summit and Honors Ceremony was made possible by the support of 15 sponsors and partners, emphasizing IEEE’s commitment to recognizing and promoting technological innovation and excellence. The event not only celebrated individual achievements but also highlighted the importance of diversity, inclusion, and global collaboration in advancing technological innovation.
Moving forward, we aim to increase the number of award recipients from IEEE R10 and elevate R10’s presence within IEEE. By encouraging and supporting more nominations from R10, we hope to showcase the exceptional talent and contributions from the region on a global stage.
For more details on the event and the award recipients, visit the IEEE Awards website.