Dr. Mohamed Atalla

Dr. Mohamed Mohamed Atalla is one of Egypt’s greatest minds who left an everlasting mark on the world of technology and electronics. Born in Egypt in 1924, he later moved to the United States where he pursued his studies at Stanford University, becoming one of the most influential pioneers in semiconductor science.

His most significant achievement was the invention of the MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) in 1959, together with his colleague Dawon Kahng. This invention was not just a technological breakthrough—it was a turning point in human history. The MOSFET enabled the miniaturization of electronic circuits, which made possible the revolution of computers, mobile phones, the Internet, and eventually artificial intelligence.

Thanks to his invention, it became possible to integrate billions of transistors on a single silicon chip, making electronic devices faster, smaller, and cheaper. It is no exaggeration to say that Atalla’s MOSFET changed the world, laying the foundation for the modern digital age.

Although his name is not always highlighted in the media as much as some Western inventors, Mohamed Atalla remains a symbol of Egyptian genius and a true Arab contribution to the progress of global science. He proved that Arab minds are capable of creating innovations that change the course of history.