The 1989 Draper Prize

The first Draper Prize was awarded in 1989 to Jack Kilby and Dr. Robert Noyce, who independently of one another invented and developed the monolithic integrated circuit (IC). Achieved in the late 1950s, the monolithic IC (semiconductor chip) provided an alternative to using wire and solder to connect transistors, capacitors, and resistors, which had seriously limited the size and capability of previous systems.

The Draper Prize was endowed in 1988 by The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in memory of its founder and to increase public understanding of the contributions of engineering and technology to society. The prize is awarded annually. It is among the world's largest engineering awards.

Dr. Charles Stark Draper, known as the "father of inertial navigation", led the effort that brought inertial navigation into operational usage in aircraft, missiles, submarines, and space vehicles. He was head of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, which later was renamed in his honor and became an independent, not-for-profit corporation in 1973.

For additional information about the Draper Prize, contact the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) awards administrator, at 202-334-1237 or visit the NAE Web, or contact Kathleen Granchelli, Communications Director, Draper Laboratory, at 617-258-2605.

The Draper Prize Recipients