Chicago, IL — The Marconi Society proudly announces Martin Cooper, celebrated as the father of the handheld cell phone, will receive the 2025 Marconi Society Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognize his numerous achievements and contributions well beyond the cell phone, at the Marconi Awards Gala on November 14, 2025, at UCLA’s Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Martin Cooper is recognized for his lifetime of leadership in wireless communications, entrepreneurship, public service, and for inspiring others through his work, mentorship, and commitment to improving lives through technology. He received the Marconi Prize in 2013 and was most recently honored with the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation. His numerous additional awards and recognitions in the U.S. and around the world include the Radio Club of America’s Fred Link Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research, membership in the National Academy of Engineering, and the prestigious Charles Stark Draper Prize.
“Marty’s generosity, curiosity, and commitment to making technology meaningful to people’s lives are what make him extraordinary,” said John Janowiak, President & CEO of the Marconi Society. “We’re honored to recognize his lifelong service.”
Best known for leading the invention of the first handheld mobile phone at Motorola in 1973, Cooper’s influence spans decades and industries. He went on to co-found companies such as ArrayComm, GreatCall, and Dyna LLC—often in partnership with his wife, entrepreneur Arlene Harris—focusing on bridging advanced technology with real-world usability.
Cooper is known for developing “Cooper’s Law,” which predicts the exponential growth of wireless capacity. He has also been a trusted advisor to U.S. government communications policy bodies. A lifelong advocate for education, he has mentored generations of engineers and entrepreneurs and remains a Life Trustee at Illinois Institute of Technology, his alma mater. He also co-founded the Wireless History Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of wireless innovation. Cooper is the author of the book Cutting the Cord, which chronicles the story of mobile communication and its broader societal implications, and he has written numerous articles and holds multiple patents that have shaped the wireless industry.
Martin Cooper shares, “the Marconi Society’s extensive programs focused on young technologists and entrepreneurs throughout the world are unique and impactful. My colleagues in the Marconi Society seek to inspire the new generations to create solutions that lead to a more productive and peaceful world.”
“Marty Cooper’s long, high-impact career and his zest for life have been an inspiration for generations of engineers and business professionals,” said Dennis Roberson, Chair of the Marconi Society. “This award reflects not only his technological contributions and business successes, but also his enduring legacy of mentoring young people and challenging the status quo to create a better standard of living for the people of the world.”
###
About the Marconi Society
The Marconi Society celebrates and supports individuals advancing technology that promotes global connectivity and sustainability. Founded in 1974 by Guglielmo Marconi’s daughter, Gioia Marconi Braga, the Marconi Society honors technical excellence, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian impact in the spirit of Marconi’s legacy. Learn more at www.marconisociety.org.
Marconi Society Media Contact Yeimidy Lagunas ylagunas@marconisociety.org.