Cochlear Implant Pioneer Ingeborg Hochmair Receives Prestigious Honda Prize 2026

September 15, 2026 – Innsbruck, Austria: MED-EL, a global leader in hearing implant solutions, is proud to announce that Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair, co-founder and CEO of MED-EL, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Honda Prize 2026. The Honda Prize is one of Japan's most prestigious international awards in science and technology, honoring innovations that advance human well-being and contribute to a more humane society.

MED-EL co-founder Ingeborg Hochmair named recipient of the Honda Prize 2026
Award honors achievements in research, clinical application, and global adoption of multichannel cochlear implants
Ceremony to take place on November 16, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan

Presented annually by the Honda Foundation of Japan, the Honda Prize recognizes individuals whose scientific and technological achievements contribute to the creation of a more humane society. This year's prize honors Dr. Hochmair's pioneering contributions to the research, development, clinical application, and global adoption of multichannel cochlear implant technology. Dr. Hochmair shares the 2026 Honda Prize with Australian physician and researcher Dr. Graeme Clark, whose work also helped lay the foundation for modern cochlear implants.

A Lifetime of Innovation in Hearing Technology

Dr. Hochmair began her work in cochlear implant research in the 1970s and, together with Dr. Erwin Hochmair, developed the world's first microelectronic multichannel cochlear implants. In 1977, their technology was used in a groundbreaking implantation at the University of Vienna. Building on this achievement, they founded MED-EL to advance innovation in hearing implant technology and expand access to hearing solutions around the world. Today, MED-EL hearing implant solutions are used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, reflecting decades of clinical experience and innovation.

"It is a great honor to be named a recipient of the Honda Prize," says Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair, CEO and co-founder of MED-EL. "The award's vision that scientific and technological progress should ultimately serve people resonates strongly with the field of cochlear implants. This recognition reflects the dedication of many researchers, clinicians, engineers, rehabilitation specialists, and, most importantly, implant recipients who have contributed to the development and advancement of cochlear implant technology over the past decades. Together, we have helped create opportunities for people around the world to hear, communicate, and participate more fully in life."

Established in 1980, the Honda Prize is among Japan's most prestigious international science and technology awards, recognizing individuals whose achievements contribute to the creation of a more humane society.
The Honda Prize award ceremony will take place on November 16, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan. The laureates will receive the Honda Prize medal, certificate, and a share of the award's total cash prize of ¥10 million.

Further information about the Honda Prize is available at: www.hondafoundation.jp

About the Honda Foundation

The Honda Foundation was established in December 1977 with a donation from Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and his younger brother, Benjiro. The Foundation defines approaches to resolve issues by harmonizing the human and natural environments in "ecotechnology." The Foundation focuses on the following three activities to develop and disseminate ecotechnology.
1. Honda Prize: An international award that acknowledges significant achievements in the field of ecotechnology
2. International symposia and colloquia: Providing opportunities for extensive discussions into various issues of modern society to search for resolutions
3. Honda Y-E-S Program: Various programs designed to develop young talented engineers and scientists for the next generation
The Foundation aims to contribute to “the creation of a truly humane civilization” through these activities.

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 3,300 employees from around 90 nations and 30 locations worldwide.

The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 142 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com