KJ Ray Liu: A Pioneer in Signal Processing and IEEE Leadership

April 2026 marked a milestone for K.J. Ray Liu, former IEEE president and semiconductor pioneer, as he received the Haraden Pratt Award for transforming professional engineering organizations. The IEEE Spectrum reported the honor recognized his push to diversify the Fellow program and rebalance global representation on the Board of Directors. Liu, a retired University of Maryland professor and co-founder of wireless sensing startup Origin Wireless, called the award a tribute to “collective work with volunteers and staff.”

From Taiwan to the Global Stage

Liu’s engineering roots trace to the 1970s, when Taiwan’s economic policies prioritized semiconductor manufacturing. “Students who were good in math, science, and physics all wanted to be an electrical engineer because that was the top priority of the government,” he recalled. Graduating from National Taiwan University in 1983, he found few industry jobs, prompting a move to the U.S. for graduate studies. He earned a master’s from the University of Michigan in 1987 and a UCLA Ph.D. in 1990, where his focus on digital signal processing and VLSI took shape.

A Legacy of Innovation

At the University of Maryland, Liu built a signal processing research program, authoring 900 papers, 250 patents, and 10 books. His work underpinned modern electronics, as VLSI technology now powers all digital devices. “When I was a graduate student, there was no wireless communication. Everybody had a landline,” he noted. His research bridged VLSI and signal processing, a field he described as “two lanes with a bridge linking them.”

Bridging Technology and Humanity

Liu’s entrepreneurial ventures included co-founding Origin Wireless in 2013, which used ambient Wi-Fi signals for indoor tracking and health monitoring. The startup’s tech, developed via university incubators, won 2020 and 2021 Consumer Electronics Show awards. “We could know everything happening around us—our motions, breathing, heartbeat, even fall detection—without any wearables,” he said. Origin was acquired by ADT in 2023.

Reforming IEEE’s Global Structure

Liu’s IEEE leadership began in 1986 as a graduate student, driven by the need to access research papers. “If you didn’t join an IEEE society, you didn’t get its journal—which meant that you couldn’t read the most up-to-date research papers,” he explained. As IEEE president in 2022, he prioritized three initiatives: raising the Medal of Honor prize to $2 million, realigning geographic regions, and boosting financial transparency.

Financial Transparency and Accountability

Liu modernized IEEE’s financial systems, enabling clearer tracking of spending and revenue. “Now we know exactly where the money comes from and where it is spent,” he said. These reforms, he argued, reflected IEEE’s mission to highlight technological impact. “We need the whole world to understand the IEEE community has made the most impact on society in the last century,” he stated.

Mentorship and the Power of Community

Beyond technical achievements, Liu emphasized mentorship. “From student to professor to an established leader, at every stage, it offered me different opportunities to grow,” he said. His work with IEEE, he added, was a way to “pay back” to the organization that shaped his career. “Our hard work is fueled by our shared devotion to this professional home we love and care for so much,” he said.

A Career Defined by Impact

The Haraden Pratt Award, presented by the IEEE Foundation, honors leaders with “transformative and impactful leadership.” Liu’s career—spanning academia, industry, and professional service—reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing technology and fostering global collaboration. His story underscores how individual choices, shaped by historical context, can influence entire fields. As Taiwan’s semiconductor industry evolved from government-driven policy to global dominance, Liu’s path from engineering student to IEEE leader illustrates the interconnectedness of education, innovation, and international cooperation.