FEDERICO FAGGIN
Federico Faggin was born in Vicenza, Italy, and graduated in physics, summa cum laude, from the University of Padua in 1965. Faggin came to the US in 1968 working for Fairchild Semiconductor where he led the development of the MOS Silicon Gate Technology, a key process technology that was adopted worldwide and laid the foundation for all contemporary integrated circuits.
Working for Intel Corporation from 1970 to 1974, Faggin designed many products, including the world's first microprocessor, the Intel 4004; and the 8008, 8080 and 4040 microprocessors.
In 1974 Faggin began an entrepreneurial career and co-founded several start-up companies. Notable are Zilog, Inc., where Faggin led the development of the Z80 microprocessor, and was President and CEO until 1980; and Synaptics, Inc., the developer of the early touchpads and touch-screens now universally used in nearly all mobile devices, where Faggin was President and CEO from 1987 to 1999, and Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2009.
Faggin is now President of Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the scientific study of consciousness.
Faggin is the recipient of many international awards, including the 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, from President Barack Obama.