Post by MED-EL

What began as a bold scientific vision has transformed lives worldwide. Today, the extraordinary impact of Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, cochlear implant pioneers and MED‑EL founders, is being recognized: They, together with seven other outstanding engineers, have been honored as Laureates of the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize). As one of the world’s most prestigious engineering awards, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering champions bold, groundbreaking engineering innovation which is of global benefit to humanity. “Cochlear implants were once considered impossible by many. Today, they demonstrate what can be achieved when engineers, clinicians, and users work together with a shared purpose,” says Ingeborg Hochmair, co‑founder and CEO of MED‑EL. Erwin Hochmair, co‑founder of MED‑EL, adds, “From the earliest experiments, our goal was to create a neural interface that could work in harmony with the human auditory system over a lifetime. This recognition by the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering affirms the importance of long‑term thinking, scientific persistence, and engineering solutions that truly serve people.” Congratulations to Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair on this award, and a heartfelt thank you for your continued dedication to pushing the boundaries of hearing implant technology as we pursue our mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. #CochlearImplant #QEPrize #QEPrize2026 #HearingInnovation