September 29, 2025

CAMBRIDGE, MA–A visionary at the intersection of engineering, technology and education, Sanjay Sarma is the recipient of the 2025 Academia & Innovation Award at the New England Choice Awards. His career has transformed not only how we interact with technology—but also how we teach, learn and share knowledge across the world.

Sarma is the Fred Fort Flowers (1941) and Daniel Fort Flowers (1941) Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He co-founded the MIT Auto-ID Center, laying the technological foundation for what is now known as the Internet of Things. His pioneering work in RFID technology reshaped industries including logistics, healthcare, retail and manufacturing. He also served as chief technology officer of OATSystems, one of the first RFID software companies.