Computer Entrepreneur Award

In 1982, on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the IEEE Computer Society established the Computer Entrepreneur Award to recognize and honor the technical managers and entrepreneurial leaders who are responsible for the growth of some segment of the computer industry. The efforts must have taken place over fifteen years earlier, and the industry effects must be generally and openly visible. This award was discontinued in 2022.

Past Recipients

2011 Diane B. Greene: For creating a virtualization platform that profoundly revolutionized modern computing.
2011 Mendel Rosenblum: For creating a virtualization platform that profoundly revolutionized modern computing.
2009 Sandy Lerner: For founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry.
2009 Len Bosack: For founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry.
2008 John E. Warnock: For inventing PostScript and PDF and helping to launch the desktop publishing revolution and change the way people engage with information and entertainment.
2008 Charles M. Geschke: For inventing PostScript and PDF and helping to launch the desktop publishing revolution and change the way people engage with information and entertainment.
2008 Edwin E. Catmull: For creating the practical foundations for a torrent of computer graphics applications, which made computers indispensable in computer animated film, computer design and manufacture, flight simulation, and entertainment.
2004 Bjarne Stroustrup: For pioneering the development and commercialization of industrial-strength, object-oriented programming technologies and the profound changes they fostered in business and industry.
2000 Michael Dell: For his entrepreneurial leadership in revolutionizing the personal computer industry through direct consumer, build-to-order and assembly-on-demand.
1999 Clive Sinclair: For his spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, which has been a source of inspiration and guidance to the computer industry worldwide.
1998 Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak: For their entrepreneurial leadership in the creation of the personal computing industry and the profound changes it has fostered in both business and personal life.
1998 George Schussel: For his entrepreneurial leadership in professional development, continuing education, and technology assessment.
1997 Andrew S. Grove: For his important contributions to the computing industry and profession as an entrepreneurial leader, advisor, and mentor.
1996 Daniel S. Bricklin: For pioneering the development and commercialization of the spreadsheet and the profound changes it fostered in business and industry.
1995 William Hewlett, David Packard: For entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and impact that has served as a role model for the entire computing industry.
1990 J. Presper Eckert: For pioneering design work resulting in creation of the world's first large-scale electronic general-purpose digital computer.
1989 Gene M. Amdahl: In recognition of his entrepreneurial efforts in the development of a strong and competitive mainframe industry.
1987 Erwin Tomash: For recognition of early pioneering work with computer equipment peripherals.
1986 Gordon Moore: In recognition of their early contributions to microcomputers and silicon components.
1986 Robert Noyce: In recognition of their early contributions to microcomputers and silicon components.
1985 Kenneth Olsen: For pioneering work with concepts and development of minicomputers.
1985 William Norris: For pioneering work with concepts and development of minicomputers.

Computer Entrepreneur Award

Past Recipients

2011 Diane B. Greene: For creating a virtualization platform that profoundly revolutionized modern computing.
2011 Mendel Rosenblum: For creating a virtualization platform that profoundly revolutionized modern computing.
2009 Sandy Lerner: For founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry.
2009 Len Bosack: For founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry.
2008 John E. Warnock: For inventing PostScript and PDF and helping to launch the desktop publishing revolution and change the way people engage with information and entertainment.
2008 Charles M. Geschke: For inventing PostScript and PDF and helping to launch the desktop publishing revolution and change the way people engage with information and entertainment.
2008 Edwin E. Catmull: For creating the practical foundations for a torrent of computer graphics applications, which made computers indispensable in computer animated film, computer design and manufacture, flight simulation, and entertainment.
2004 Bjarne Stroustrup: For pioneering the development and commercialization of industrial-strength, object-oriented programming technologies and the profound changes they fostered in business and industry.
2000 Michael Dell: For his entrepreneurial leadership in revolutionizing the personal computer industry through direct consumer, build-to-order and assembly-on-demand.
1999 Clive Sinclair: For his spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, which has been a source of inspiration and guidance to the computer industry worldwide.
1998 Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak: For their entrepreneurial leadership in the creation of the personal computing industry and the profound changes it has fostered in both business and personal life.
1998 George Schussel: For his entrepreneurial leadership in professional development, continuing education, and technology assessment.
1997 Andrew S. Grove: For his important contributions to the computing industry and profession as an entrepreneurial leader, advisor, and mentor.
1996 Daniel S. Bricklin: For pioneering the development and commercialization of the spreadsheet and the profound changes it fostered in business and industry.
1995 William Hewlett, David Packard: For entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and impact that has served as a role model for the entire computing industry.
1990 J. Presper Eckert: For pioneering design work resulting in creation of the world's first large-scale electronic general-purpose digital computer.
1989 Gene M. Amdahl: In recognition of his entrepreneurial efforts in the development of a strong and competitive mainframe industry.
1987 Erwin Tomash: For recognition of early pioneering work with computer equipment peripherals.
1986 Gordon Moore: In recognition of their early contributions to microcomputers and silicon components.
1986 Robert Noyce: In recognition of their early contributions to microcomputers and silicon components.
1985 Kenneth Olsen: For pioneering work with concepts and development of minicomputers.
1985 William Norris: For pioneering work with concepts and development of minicomputers.