Award ceremony and acceptance speech, 1st Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2008 in Information and Communication Technologies

In his speech upon receiving the 2008 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, Jacob Ziv reflects on the theoretical foundations of data compression and coding and their impact in the digital era. He highlights how transmission and storage algorithms have improved the efficiency of modern networks. He underscores the value of creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific curiosity, and emphasizes basic research as the source of technological advances that underpin today’s global connectivity.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category is awarded to Jacob Ziv for his pioneering innovations in data compression, which have had a profound impact both theoretically and practically. His findings have enabled, among many other applications, the compression of data, text, image, and video files used across all personal computers.