Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak gets honorary degree in Moldova
Steve Wozniak, one of the most influential innovators of the 20th century, received an honorary degree from the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) on Sunday, October 19.
In granting the award, UTM said it was recognising a personality who has inspired generations of engineers, programmers, and dreamers. According to the university, Wozniak's legacy—transforming curiosity into creation and technology into humanity—deeply resonates with UTM’s mission: to train engineers who create the future.
The university's rector, Viorel Bostan, said that Wozniak's inventions had transformed the technology sector and the way people interact with the digital world.
"His simple, yet profound, philosophy reminds us that true innovation begins and ends with people. Through creativity, courage and humanism, Steve Wozniak shows us that true innovation is not measured in products, but in the impact it has on people. The Technical University of Moldova today pays tribute to the inventor and the man who proved that technological and moral progress can go hand in hand," declared Mr Bostan.
Born on 11 August 1950 in San Jose, California, Steve Wozniak showed his passion for electronics from childhood, inheriting from his father, an engineer, not only technical precision but also social responsibility.
In 1976, he co-founded Apple Computer Inc. with his friend Steve Jobs, and they launched the Apple I – the first fully functional personal computer. A year later, Wozniak created the Apple II, a true technological leap that, for the first time, integrated a central processing unit, keyboard, colour graphics, and a floppy disk drive.
Through these innovations, Steve Wozniak laid the foundation for the personal computer era and made technology accessible to millions of people worldwide.
Beyond the inventions that transformed the digital world, Wozniak is recognised for his modesty, altruism, and dedication to education. After leaving Apple, he devoted himself to numerous philanthropic and educational projects, supporting digital literacy programmes in schools and promoting learning through experimentation and creativity.
Steve Wozniak is also a co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a defender of digital freedoms, and a sponsor of renowned cultural and educational institutions, such as the Tech Museum of Innovation, the Silicon Valley Ballet, and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.
For his merits, he received the National Medal of Technology in 1985, presented by US President Ronald Reagan, the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment in 2000, as well as the Hoover Medal in 2014—one of the most prestigious distinctions for engineers who serve humanity.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
