An Indian-origin scientist working in the field of microelectronics has achieved a monumental milestone, cementing his place in history as one of the world’s most prolific inventors.
Dr. Gurtej Sandhu, Principal Fellow and Vice President at Micron Technology, has surpassed the patent count of legendary American inventor Thomas Edison. With a portfolio that has reportedly crossed 1,382 active US patents, Dr. Sandhu now ranks among the top seven inventors globally. Thomas Edison, by comparison, held 1,093 US patents.
Dr. Sandhu’s groundbreaking work primarily revolves around the semiconductor industry, particularly in the scaling and manufacturing of high-density memory chips, such as DRAM and NAND flash memory, which are essential components in virtually every modern electronic device, from smartphones to cloud storage systems.
From IIT-Delhi to Global Icon
Born in London and having spent his formative years in India, Dr. Sandhu is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, where he completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering. He later earned his PhD in physics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
His innovations are credited with helping to sustain “Moore’s Law”—the principle that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles roughly every two years—by pioneering techniques like atomic layer deposition and pitch-doubling. These advancements have enabled the continuous creation of smaller, faster, and more efficient memory chips.
“It’s a moment of unparalleled pride for India and the global scientific community,” a commentator noted on the achievement.
Dr. Sandhu’s success underscores the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora to global technology and innovation, proving that a relentless focus on solving complex engineering challenges can reshape the world.
