Professor Dr Erwin Hochmair

Professor Dr Erwin Hochmair is an Austrian electrical engineer who has pioneered the development of modern cochlear implants. Following his doctorate at the Vienna University of Technology, he held leading research positions in Europe and the United States, including at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Stanford University. From 1985 to 2009, he served as Full Professor of Applied Physics at the University of Innsbruck, where he also acted as Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Head of the Department of Applied Physics.

The co-founder of hearing implant manufacturer MED-EL has authored more than 100 scientific publications and is the (co-)inventor of 26 patent families. His achievements have been recognised with numerous international honours and awards, including, the Russ Prize of the US National Academy of Engineering, and the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal.