The 2027 IEEE Technical Field Awards honour individual researchers, innovators, and collaborative teams whose technical achievements and leadership have made a lasting impact on technology, engineering, and society worldwide. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Dr Ann B. Kelleher, retired Executive Vice President of Technology Development at Intel Corporation, Tyndall National Institute alumna, and former member of the Tyndall Board, has been named recipient of the 2027 IEEE Frederik Philips Award.

Dr Kelleher is recognised for leading the historic advancement of CMOS process technology, the foundational manufacturing technology underpinning modern semiconductor devices. Her work culminated in the delivery of the first manufacturing node featuring backside power delivery, a breakthrough that improves power efficiency and performance by fundamentally redesigning how power is supplied within a microchip.

A pioneering leader in semiconductor innovation, Dr Kelleher spent almost three decades at Intel Corporation, having joined the company in 1996, progressing to become Executive Vice President and General Manager of Technology Development. In this role she led pioneering global initiatives in process technology and manufacturing innovation, delivering breakthrough advances that reshaped modern semiconductor engineering.

Commenting on the award, Professor William Scanlon, CEO, Tyndall, said:

“We offer our warmest congratulations to Ann on this prestigious recognition. The award honours an exceptional career that has helped shape the future of semiconductor technology worldwide through groundbreaking leadership in research, innovation and advanced manufacturing. As a member of the Tyndall Board, from 2012 to 2022, Ann provided strategic guidance during a period of significant growth and transformation for the Institute, bringing invaluable insight and perspective from the forefront of global semiconductor innovation.”

In response to receiving the IEEE Frederik Philips Award, Dr Kelleher said:

“I am honoured to receive the IEEE Frederik Philips Award and would like to thank IEEE for this recognition. Semiconductor innovation is built on collaboration, curiosity and a commitment to solving complex challenges, and I have been fortunate to work alongside exceptional teams throughout my career. I hope this award inspires the next generation of engineers and researchers to pursue ambitious ideas and contribute to the technologies that will shape our future.”

Dr Kelleher’s connection with Tyndall stretches back to the Institute’s origins. Following her studies at University College Cork, where she earned First Class Honours in Engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering, she became the first woman to receive a PhD from the National Microelectronics Research Centre (NMRC), the forerunner of Tyndall.

Her remarkable journey from pioneering researcher in Cork to one of the world’s most respected semiconductor technology leaders reflects the enduring impact of Irish research leadership on the global stage and serves as an inspiration to the next generation of innovators advancing semiconductor research and innovation at Tyndall and beyond.

Tyndall is a partnership between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and University College Cork.