Chicago, IL [February 24, 2025] The Marconi Society proudly announces Nick McKeown as the recipient of the 2025 Marconi Prize in recognition for his fundamental contributions to high-performance switches and routers and to software defined networking and for transferring these contributions into widespread practice. McKeown exemplifies the spirit of Guglielmo Marconi by reshaping how we connect and communicate.
“Nick’s broad and deep technical contributions in high-speed switches, routers, and software defined networking have transformed research in networking as well as how networks are built in practice,” said Dr. Andrea Goldsmith, 2020 Marconi Fellow and Chair of the Marconi Prize Committee. “Nick is a truly unique visionary, academic, and entrepreneur who has repeatedly built successful companies and open-source protocols around his groundbreaking research. His generosity of spirit has benefited all the students and colleagues fortunate enough to work with him, as well as the important philanthropic causes he has embraced. I am truly delighted to welcome Nick to our community of Marconi Fellows.”
Nick McKeown’s scientific contributions have fundamentally transformed modern networking. He enabled scalable Internet routers, efficient switch fabric scheduling, virtual output queuing, buffer sizing, and network memory. Additionally, he co-invented software defined networking (SDN) through the Ethane project and OpenFlow protocol with Martin Casado and Scott Shenker, introduced the idea of programmable forwarding planes, and challenged traditional network architecture. McKeown’s influence extends to designing open-source platforms like NetFPGA and the P4 programming language, empowering researchers and developers around the world.
“I am thrilled to receive this honor from the Marconi Society,” McKeown said. “To think of the people who have won the prize in the past: Vint Cerf, John Cioffi, Andrea Goldsmith, Teresa Meng, Hari Balakrishnan, and many more—it is a great honor to be in their company.”
Beyond academia, McKeown has successfully bridged the gap between research and industry, co-founding multiple startups that have redefined networking, including Nicira Networks and Barefoot Networks. His commitment to open networking and accessibility has paved the way for a new era of programmable networks. “I really enjoy working with my students and colleagues on problems that challenge conventional wisdom and entrenched business practices. For example, SDN succeeded because it handed over the ‘keys to innovation’ to those who own and operate networks, so they can improve the Internet for themselves,” said McKeown.
McKeown’s passion for technology is evident in his altruistic efforts. With his wife, Asena, he has been involved in initiatives that bring computer science education to students worldwide. These initiatives originated from the CS Bridge program, which provides programming courses for high school students in cities such as Istanbul, Prague, and Bogota.
“As we look to the future of the Marconi Society, Nick embodies the spirit of innovation and global collaboration that has defined our organization for over 50 years,” said Dennis Roberson, Chairman of the Marconi Society. “With his international roots and impact—from the UK to Silicon Valley—Nick reflects the global nature of our mission, our community, and the legacy of Guglielmo Marconi himself. We are honored to have him as part of our story and our future.”
McKeown will be formally honored at the Marconi Awards Gala and Tech Institutes on November 14, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA. For more information on this celebration, please sign up to receive event updates from the Marconi Society. Nominations for the 2026 Marconi Prize are being accepted through June 30, 2025. More information is here.
About Nick McKeown
Nick McKeown is a Senior Fellow at Intel, an emeritus professor at Stanford University in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a visiting professor at Oxford University. He has founded technology companies in Silicon Valley and was recently appointed to the Council of Science and Technology (CST), which advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet on strategic science and technology policy issues.
About the Marconi Prize
The Marconi Prize is the flagship award of the Marconi Society. It is given annually to innovators who bring connectivity opportunities to everyone through the advancement of information and communications technology. They have changed our lives by creating an Internet that is available, accessible, secure, and useful and putting its power into the hands of billions of people. Marconi Prize recipients are recommended by an independent selection committee and approved by the Marconi Society Board.
About the Marconi Society
The Marconi Society builds communities of leaders and stakeholders at the forefront of emerging technology to create a more connected and sustainable world. Established in 1974, the Marconi Society honors innovators who have advanced communications and information technology for the benefit of humanity. For more information about the Marconi Society and the Marconi Prize, please visit www.marconisociety.org.
