Main Page

The IEEE Milestones program honors significant technical achievements in all areas associated with IEEE. The designated fields (per IEEE Bylaw I-104.11 ) are: Engineering, Computer Sciences and Information Technology, Physical Sciences, Biological and Medical Sciences, Mathematics, Technical Communications, Education, Management, and Law and Policy. It is a program of the IEEE History Committee, administered through the IEEE History Center. IEEE Milestones recognize the technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity found in unique products, services, seminal papers and patents. Milestones honor the achievement, rather than a place or a person. Milestones are proposed by any IEEE member, and are sponsored by any one or more IEEE Organizational Unit(s) (OU) such as IEEE section(s), society(ies), chapter(s) or student branch(es).

To be proposed as an IEEE Milestone, an achievement must be at least 25 years old, have benefited humanity, and must have had at least regional importance. Geographical importance will need to be explained in the proposal. The achievement must not be the subject of current litigation. There is no maximum or minimum number of achievements which may be proposed or dedicated as milestones in any calendar year. There is no maximum or minimum number of achievements which may be proposed or dedicated as milestones by any organizational unit or units. There is no maximum or minimum number of achievements which may be proposed or dedicated as milestones within any geographical or technical area. The official IEEE plaque is the English-language plaque. The sponsoring organizational unit(s) may, at their expense, request a plaque or plaques in other languages. The translation must be made—or validated by—a third-party professional translator at the sponsoring organizational unit(s)’ expense. Learn more about the IEEE Milestones program.

At least one of the Milestone proposers must be a current IEEE member or student member. Before submitting a milestone proposal, please be sure to read thoroughly the Milestone Program Guidelines

Milestones In Process

The Milestones Status Report contains a complete list of all Milestones which are currently in process.

How to Propose an IEEE Milestone

Before submitting a proposal please review the List of all Dedicated Milestones as well as the Milestones Status Report to ensure that a proposal does not already exist. You may also wish to view the List of Achievements suitable for Proposal to give you some ideas.

• Milestone Program Guidelines
• FAQs
• Helpful Hints on Citations and Plaque Locations
• Plaque dimensions, costs, and mounting details

Milestones Already Dedicated

• Chronological List of Dedicated Milestones by date of invention or discovery
• List of Milestones by Region
• List of Milestones by Year Dedicated
• Map Showing Dedicated IEEE Milestones
• Gallery of selfies at IEEE Milestone plaques submitted by users

Achievements Suitable for Proposal as Milestones

Hundreds of achievements which are suitable for an IEEE Milestone have yet to be proposed. IEEE has compiled a list of achievements suitable for Milestones highlighting many, but not all of these. Check the list to see if one of these resides in your section or within your society's fields of interest, to get some ideas, or even to add ideas to list that others may take up.