Innovator creates a more just and prosperous society through accessible, affordable connections
Chicago, IL, [March 21, 2024] – The Marconi Society is pleased to announce Dr. Teresa H. Meng as the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Marconi Prize in recognition of her fundamental technical contributions to and commercial leadership in all-CMOS Wi-Fi technology, leading to its widespread use in practice. Meng’s groundbreaking research, engineering, and entrepreneurial vision have made Wi-Fi technology faster, more energy-efficient, and cost-effective so that it can be a critical part of everyday life.
“We are so proud to honor Teresa’s transformational technology and commercial leadership in helping to create the Wi-Fi systems ubiquitous today” said Dr. Andrea Goldsmith, 2020 Marconi Fellow and Chair of the Marconi Prize Committee. “Her bold vision to create all-CMOS Wi-Fi systems when it was thought impossible, her groundbreaking approach to architectural optimization across analog and digital system boundaries, her creation of the first open driver to program Wi-Fi chips, and her development of wirelessly-powered neural prosthetic systems demonstrate that Teresa is a fearless trailblazer and major contributor to the wireless revolution.”
Meng is perhaps best known for her vision and technical innovation as a founder at Atheros Communications, which was acquired by Qualcomm in 2011. Wireless local area networking needed to become more robust, power efficient, and affordable in order to realize its full potential. Meng recognized that by using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integration, which places many functions on the same chip, and integrating both analog circuits and intensive digital signal processing, she could solve these problems by improving quality and reducing costs. At a time when CMOS talent was scarce and many believed that the timing was too early for the technology, Meng assembled and led a world-class team that together accomplished in under two years what experts predicted would take twice to three times as long.
“I focus on using my expertise to make the world a more equitable place by making complex communications devices more affordable and accessible to the public,” remarked Meng. “By working with other like-minded engineers to create a ubiquitous and robust communication environment in which people can affordably interact with one another from anywhere at any time, we are able to provide a richer communications experience for everyone.”
Meng’s later work focused on designing and implementing brain to computer interfaces. She and her team at Stanford demonstrated the first implant device that uses a wireless power transfer mechanism that could eliminate the need for a battery in the future. Her team’s research to convert analog neural signals to digital ones at power dissipation levels compatible with medical implantation and wirelessly transmit these signals out of the brain for computation of position estimates needed to control prosthetic devices have launched a new field of study in low-power implantable systems and enabled overall neuroscience research. She continues to provide guidance and vision on leading edge technologies that contribute to quality of life as an advisor at Atmosic.
Her passion for using education and technology to advance social justice has led Meng to focus on improving education, arts and culture, and social welfare across Asia as a director for the Alliance Cultural Foundation International (ACFI). Meng’s advocacy for women in technology has made her an inspiring voice in the industry.
Teresa H. Meng will be honored at the Marconi Society’s annual awards Gala in October 2024, in Bologna, Italy. For more information on this celebration, please sign up to receive event updates from the Marconi Society. Nominations for the 2025 Marconi Prize are being accepted through June 28, 2024. More information is here.
About Teresa H. Meng
Teresa Meng is the Reid Weaver Dennis Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emerita, at Stanford University, joining the faculty in 1988. Meng dedicated the initial decade of her work to research in low-power circuit and system design, video signal processing, and wireless communications. In 1998, she briefly left Stanford to establish Atheros Communications, Inc., focusing on semiconductor system solutions for wireless networks.
Returning in 2000, Meng continued teaching and research, shifting her focus to biomedical engineering. Collaborating with Professor Krishna Shenoy, she explored neural signal processing and prosthetic systems, alongside leading research into wireless power transfer and implantable biomedical devices.
Retiring from Stanford in 2013, Meng has served on the board of Ambarella and is currently on the Alliance Cultural Foundation International’s board, while advising Atmosic Technologies.
Meng is the first female recipient of the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal. She holds a B. Sc. in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University and MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley.
About the Marconi Prize
The Marconi Prize is the flagship award of the Marconi Society, given annually to innovators who have made significant contributions to increasing digital inclusivity through the advancement of information and communications technology. Marconi Prize recipients are recommended by an independent selection committee and approved by the Marconi Society Board.
About the Marconi SocietyThe Marconi Society envisions a connected world where information and communications technologies empower everyone to reach their full potential. The organization encourages and celebrates innovators who push the technical, creative and entrepreneurial boundaries of Information and Communications Technology for the benefit of humanity. For more information about the Marconi Society and the 2024 Marconi Prize, please visit www.marconisociety.org.
