# Robert Noyce

> Robert Norton Noyce co-invented the monolithic integrated circuit in 1959 - the foundational technology behind every modern chip - and then co-founded Intel in 1968, where he also invented Silicon Valley's flat, equity-sharing management culture. Nicknamed 'The Mayor of Silicon Valley' and 'Rapid Robert,' he was a physicist, pilot, hang-glider, and former pig thief who transformed both how the world computes and how technology companies are run.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and former CEO, Intel Corporation (deceased)
- **Organizations:** Intel Corporation, Fairchild Semiconductor, Sematech, Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
- **From:** Burlington, Iowa, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A. in Physics and Mathematics, Grinnell College, Ph.D. in Physics (Solid State / Transistor Physics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- **Known for:** Co-invented the first practical monolithic integrated circuit (1959) - the foundation of all modern electronics, Co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor (1957) - one of the first successful Silicon Valley technology companies, Co-founded Intel Corporation (1968) - which became the world's largest semiconductor company

## Career timeline

- **1953** — Joined Philco Corporation as a research engineer working on germanium transistors
- **1956** — Recruited by Nobel laureate William Shockley to join Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in Palo Alto
- **1957** — Co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor with seven colleagues (the 'Traitorous Eight') after resigning from Shockley
- **1959** — Invented the first practical monolithic integrated circuit (U.S. Patent 2,981,877)
- **1968** — Co-founded Intel Corporation with Gordon Moore on July 18; served as CEO
- **1971** — Intel released the 4004, the world's first commercial microprocessor, with Noyce backing the development
- **1975** — Stepped back from Intel CEO role; became Chairman of the Board
- **1988** — Became first President and CEO of Sematech, the government-industry semiconductor consortium in Austin, Texas
- **1990** — Died of a heart attack in Austin, Texas on June 3, age 62

## Achievements

- Co-invented the first practical monolithic integrated circuit (1959) - the foundation of all modern electronics
- Co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor (1957) - one of the first successful Silicon Valley technology companies
- Co-founded Intel Corporation (1968) - which became the world's largest semiconductor company
- Backed development of the Intel 4004 (1971) - the world's first commercial microprocessor
- Invented Silicon Valley's egalitarian, equity-sharing management culture
- First President and CEO of Sematech (1988), helping restore US semiconductor competitiveness
- Received the National Medal of Science (1979) and National Medal of Technology (1987)
- Received the IEEE Medal of Honor (1978) and Charles Stark Draper Prize (1989, shared with Jack Kilby)
- Inducted into the US Business Hall of Fame (1989)
- Held 15 patents across semiconductor technology
- California Historical Landmark #1000 designated for Fairchild Semiconductor site

## Latest updates

- **2022-06** — The Robert N. Noyce Trust donated $60 million to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to establish the Robert Noyce School of Applied Computing.
- **2024-01** — Ann Bowers, Noyce's widow and Intel's first Director of Personnel, passed away on January 24, 2024 at age 86.
- **2024-01** — The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (NSF) continues funding STEM teachers in high-need schools across the US.

## Links

- Website: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/history/historic-figures/robert-noyce.html

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Last updated: 2026-04-29