| 2025 |  |
Ludvik Martinu Polytechnique Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
For comprehensive contributions to the development of nanostructured optical and multifunctional coatings and plasma-based processes for advanced multi-sectorial applications. |
| 2024 |  |
Yip-Wah Chung Northwestern University, Evanston, USA |
For his sustained contributions to the surface engineering and tribology fields and for pioneering wear-protective coatings to enhance tribological performance in critical industrial applications. |
| 2023 |  |
Lars Hultman Linköping University, Sweden |
For pioneering activities towards developing new thin film materials and their atomistic understanding; bridging gaps between scientific disciplines. |
| 2022 |  |
Jolanta-Ewa Klemberg-Sapieha Polytechnique Montréal, Canada |
For the development of new nanostructured multifunctional and protective coatings with tailored mechanical properties for aerospace, manufacturing and other advanced applications. |
| 2021 |  |
André Anders Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), Germany |
For significant scientific contributions to the characterization and understanding of cathodic arc and HIPIMS plasmas. |
| 2020 |  |
Christian Mitterer Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria |
For seminal contributions to the materials science of coatings based on borides, nitrides, carbonitrides, oxides, and metal alloys. |
| 2019 |  |
Joe Greene University of Illinois, Linköping University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology |
For seminal contributions in areas of thin-film physics, surface science, and surface engineering. |
| 2018 |  |
Allan Matthews University of Manchester, UK |
For outstanding contributions to surface engineering and coatings tribology. |
| 2017 |  |
John Woollam University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA |
Seminal contributions to the development and application of ellipsometry as a primary technique for determining thin-film optical properties. |
| 2016 |  |
Boris Movchan International Center for Electron Beam Technologies Kiev, Ukraine |
Pioneering work on electron-beam deposition, and his leadership as an educator and mentor spanning six decades and three continents. |
| 2015 |  |
Péter B. Barna Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary |
Pioneering contributions to the understanding of nanostructural evolution during thin film nucleation and growth based upon in-situ UHV TEM video imaging. |
| 2014 |  |
Jindrich Musil University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic |
Seminal contributions to the development of advanced nanocomposite coatings with enhanced hardness, oxidation resistance, toughness, and crack resistance. |
| 2013 |  |
William D. Sproul Reactive Sputtering, Inc., San Marcos, Ca, USA |
Seminal contributions in the developments of high rate, large area, multiple gas reactive sputter deposition. |
| 2012 |  |
Sture Hogmark Uppsala University, Sweden |
Pioneering work in the tribology of complex hard, wear-resistant coatings. |
| 2011 |  |
Stan Veprek Technical University, Munich, Germany |
Seminal work in the development of novel hard nanocomposite coatings. |
| 2010 |  |
Helmut Holleck Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany |
Pioneering research on thermodynamic constitutive relations and PVD phase maps for the design of complex advanced multicomponent coatings. |
| 2009 |  |
Ivan Petrov University of Illinois, USA |
Development of a detailed understanding of the role of low-energy ion-irradiation on microstructural and texture evolution during transition metal nitride layer growth. |
| 2008 |  |
Stephen Rossnagel IBM, USA |
Innovative development of seminal thin film solutions in microelectronic device fabrication. |
| 2007 |  |
Wolf-Dieter Münz Leybold AG, GER Sheffield Hallam University, UK Systec SVS, GER |
Seminal research and development in high rate magnetron sputtering related technologies and new materials for wear and corrosion resistant, optical, decorative, and functional coatings. |