Honda Motor Honors Dr. Kenichi Iga with 46th Honda Prize for Technological Innovation
- The Honda Foundation awarded the 46th Honda Prize to Dr. Kenichi Iga for his VCSEL technology contributions.
- The Honda Prize, established by Soichiro and Benjiro Honda, celebrates scientific achievements promoting humanitarian values.
- Honda Foundation’s mission emphasizes innovation that enhances social welfare and inspires future generations of responsible innovators.
Celebrating Innovation: Honda Foundation Honors Dr. Kenichi Iga with the Honda Prize
The Honda Foundation commemorates its commitment to scientific advancement and humanitarian values by awarding the 46th Honda Prize to Dr. Kenichi Iga. The ceremony, held on November 17, 2025, at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, recognizes Dr. Iga for his pioneering work in the development of the Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL). This technology has become integral to various modern applications, including high-speed data communication and facial recognition in smartphones, underscoring its relevance in today’s digital landscape. Hiroto Ishida, President of the Honda Foundation, highlights the transformative impact of Dr. Iga’s contributions on everyday life, echoing the foundation's mission to celebrate innovations that enhance social welfare.
Dr. Iga’s achievements not only represent significant technological advancements but also reflect the spirit of the Honda Prize, which aims to honor those whose work promotes a more humane civilization. His journey, detailed in a compelling lecture titled "Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL): Born Small and Grown Big -- From Smartphones to Huge Data Centers," illustrates a lifelong dedication to electronics that began in his childhood in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Supported by a scholarship from SAKKOKAI, a foundation established by Honda's founders, Dr. Iga’s academic and professional pursuits exemplify the ideals of innovation and societal contribution that the Honda Prize seeks to promote.
The Honda Prize, established in 1980 by Soichiro Honda and his brother Benjiro, is Japan's first international award of its kind, celebrating a diverse range of scientific and technological achievements. It emphasizes the critical importance of ecotechnology, which aims to balance human development with environmental preservation. The recognition of Dr. Iga’s work not only honors individual accomplishment but also reinforces the Honda Foundation's vision of fostering advancements that resonate with the broader goal of creating a sustainable and humane future.
In addition to the award ceremony, the event serves as a platform to inspire future generations of innovators. By highlighting the significance of technological advancements through the lens of humanitarian impact, the Honda Foundation continues to motivate young scientists and engineers to pursue their passions with a sense of responsibility toward society and the environment.
The Honda Prize not only celebrates individual brilliance but also serves as a catalyst for discussions around the intersection of technology and ethics in the modern world. As the industry evolves, the foundation's ongoing commitment to recognizing transformative innovations ensures that Honda remains at the forefront of advancements that benefit humanity as a whole.
