Our Bureau
Columbus, OH
The Ohio State University honored Sanjay Krishna, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor with the 2025 Innovator of the Year award at the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge’s Annual Showcase.
In a video overview of his work, Krishna expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s really humbling to be named Ohio State Innovator of the Year. It really captures the sense of what I’m trying to do.” He emphasized that his goal involves both innovation as a professor—training the next generation of students—and entrepreneurship by bringing innovations to the marketplace.
The Innovator of the Year award recognizes established Ohio State researchers who are actively working to promote the commercialization of university intellectual property, through invention disclosures filed, patents applied for and/or received, technologies licensed or spin-off companies formed.
While accepting the award, Krishna remarked on the hidden struggles behind success, saying, “This award is basically the tip of the iceberg. You all see the success, but behind the iceberg of success is submerged all the failures, all the mistakes that we had.” He acknowledged the importance of collaboration, thanking his colleagues, students, and family for their support.
As the George R. Smith Chair in the College of Engineering, Krishna leads a lab focused on developing next-generation infrared detectors, arrays, and imagers. He is also a co-founder and chief technical officer of SK Infrared, a startup dedicated to defense, aerospace, and commercial applications of infrared imaging. His contributions to innovation and research continue to make a significant impact in his field.
He was previously the Director of the Center for High Technology Materials, Professor and Regents Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of New Mexico. Sanjay received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1999 and PhD in Applied Physics in 2001 from the University of Michigan. He joined UNM as a tenure track faculty member in 2001.
