UBC Engineering alum and tech innovator Erik Lindholm receives honorary degree
From British Columbia to Japan to Silicon Valley, Master Inventor at NVIDIA and UBC Engineering alum Erik Lindholm has turned his love for problem solving into a career revolutionizing computer graphics. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Lindholm was granted an honorary Doctor of Science at this year’s graduation ceremonies.
“This means an amazing amount to me,” Lindholm said in his address to graduates on May 28.
Lindholm co-architected the GeForce 256, the world’s first graphics processing unit (GPU). During his time at NVIDIA, Lindholm led boundary-pushing projects that redefined what modern computers can do. He holds over 125 US patents and his hardware designs have led to the adoption of GPUs in machine learning and AI.
Born in Sweden and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lindholm arrived at UBC in 1978. A conversation with a metalwork teacher set him on a path towards engineering. After graduating with his Bachelor of Applied Science in electrical engineering, he faced a challenging job market and decided to pursue graduate studies, also at UBC.
Lindholm found a position as a visiting researcher in Japan, which also allowed him to work at Sumitomo Electric. He returned to North America to work for Silicon Graphics, and joined NVIDIA a few years later. The timing proved fortuitous: The “graphics wars” of the late 1990s drove fast innovation among chip companies. He was at NVIDIA for 27 years, stepping away in 2024.
Throughout his career, Lindholm has maintained a connection to UBC and regularly returns to his alma mater for events like Old Red, New Red. During these visits, he can often be seen playing a round of foosball at the Engineering Student Centre, a hobby he picked up during his studies. He was an early supporter of HATCH, UBC’s start-up accelerator, and attends many alumni meet-ups in Silicon Valley. In 2016, he was awarded the inaugural Dean’s Medal of Distinction for his dedication to the Faculty.
“What’s important is that you can solve problems. This is what your future work will be about,” he told the graduates. “You need to tackle them fearlessly and incredibly stubbornly.”
“I really hope that someday, some of you will be up here, having made a difference to the world, and that you’re proud of your accomplishments."
UBC grants honorary degrees—the highest honours conferred by the university—to deserving individuals who have made substantial contributions to society.
