Thomas Wiegand

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Wiegand is Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute and Professor of Information Technology at the Technical University of Berlin, where he is affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His work bridges academic research and industrial innovation in multimedia and telecommunications.

His research focuses on video coding, compression, and transmission, with significant contributions to global standards such as H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC. He has expanded into artificial intelligence for health, leading the ITU/WHO Focus Group on AI for Health since 2018. His work is characterized by deep engagement with international standardization bodies including ITU-T, ISO/IEC MPEG, and VCEG.

Wiegand has received numerous accolades for his technical leadership, including multiple Emmy Engineering Awards, the IEEE Masaru Ibuka Award, and the Karl Heinz Beckurts Prize. He is recognized as one of the most cited researchers in engineering and is a member of both Acatech and Leopoldina.

• ATAS Primetime Emmy Engineering Award (H.264/MPEG-AVC)
• ATAS Primetime Emmy Engineering Award (H.265/MPEG-HEVC)
• NATAS Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards
• IEEE Masaru Ibuka Technical Field Award
• Eduard Rhein Technology Award
• Karl Heinz Beckurts Award
• Thomson Reuters 'World's Most Influential Scientific Minds' (since 2014)
• ITU150 Award
• Member, Acatech
• Member, Leopoldina

He has advised multiple research projects and secured major funding through his leadership at Fraunhofer HHI and collaborations with industry and international organizations. His consulting work includes past engagement with Skyfire, Inc. and current work with Vidyo, Inc. He has mentored students and researchers, though specific advisees are not listed in the source.

Wiegand leads cutting-edge research teams at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, focusing on next-generation multimedia systems, AI-driven video analysis, and health informatics. The institute operates as a key node in Germany’s applied research ecosystem, collaborating with industry, academia, and global standardization bodies.