This year’s National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor bestowed by the US Government on scientists, engineers, and inventors, features two IIT alumni.
President Obama has announced the names of five inventors as recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The winners will formally receive their awards at a White House ceremony, later this year.

Prof Jayant Baliga (IITM 1969), North Carolina State University professor, is being honored for development and commercialization of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor and other power semiconductor devices that are extensively used in transportation, lighting, medicine, defense, and renewable energy generation systems. He spent 15 years at the General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, NY, leading their power device effort and was bestowed the highest scientific rank of Coolidge Fellow. Prof Baliga has authored/edited 18 books and over 500 scientific articles. He has been granted more than 100 US patents.

Prof Rakesh Agrawal (IITK-1975) from Purdue University wins the award for an extraordinary record of innovations in improving the energy efficiency and reducing the cost of gas liquefaction and separation. These innovations have had significant positive impacts on electronic device manufacturing, liquefied gas production, and the supply of industrial gases for diverse industries.

Dr Agrawal has obtained his B Tech in Chemical Engineering from IITK (1975) and his M Ch E from the University of Delaware (1977). Subsequently, he obtained his Sc D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980. He has won numerous awards and honors including membership of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2002. He has over a hundred US patents and over 80 technical papers.

Prof Baliga and Prof Agrawal are the first IIT alumni to win this prestigious award.