10/27/2025
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Next month, distinguished MechSE alumnus Sidney Lu (BSME 1981) will be inducted into The Grainger College of Engineering Hall of Fame. He will be recognized for his extraordinary business leadership that revolutionized global electronics manufacturing while maintaining a steadfast commitment to engineering innovation and educational advancement.
Since 2010, the Hall of Fame has honored alumni and distinguished members of The Grainger Engineering community who have significant achievements in leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation of great impact to society. In addition to Lu (who also holds a BS in mathematics in 1981), this year’s recipients include Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM (MS electrical engineering 1987, PhD EE 1991), and Peter Sauer, the Grainger Chair Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who is being honored posthumously.
Lu is a globally esteemed business leader and the founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Ltd. Headquartered in Taiwan, FIT is a world-leading provider of high-precision electronic interconnect components, with R&D and manufacturing operations spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas—including a key research facility at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Research Park. In recent years, the company has further expanded its footprint into high-growth markets, notably India, the Middle East, and Africa.
Additionally, the Center for Networked Intelligent Components and Environments (C-NICE) at the University of Illinois, is a $100M partnership between Grainger Engineering and FIT that serves as a global hub for the intelligent technologies driving the manufacturing plants, medical environments, autonomous vehicles, and smart homes of the future.
While FIT is widely recognized as a core manufacturing partner for Apple devices, its impact extends far beyond consumer electronics. Under Mr. Lu’s leadership, the company has achieved significant advancements in strategic sectors such as 5G AIoT, EV mobility, and audio technologies.
Mr. Lu, along with his two brothers, left Taiwan to pursue higher education in Illinois, where he quickly distinguished himself through exceptional academic discipline—completing an extraordinary 58 credit hours in his first year, nearly double the average course load of a typical freshman.
That same level of rigor and determination fueled his rapid rise at Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Foxconn Technology Group). Starting as a design manager for connectors, Lu swiftly advanced through the organization. Within 18 months, he was leading a team of 60 engineers. Over the following years, he assumed increasing responsibilities, eventually managing an entire business unit encompassing both design and manufacturing. By 2003, he was appointed head of the entire connector and cable division. He later served as Executive Vice President of Hon Hai and General Manager of its Network Interconnection Group (NWInG).
Throughout his tenure, Lu played a key role in reshaping the company’s engineering and operational capabilities. He championed the integration of scientific analysis and total quality systems across product development and manufacturing processes. Under his leadership, Foxconn’s connector group rose from an unranked position to become one of the top global providers in the computing-related connector and cable sector. Today, FIT ranks among the world’s top four connector manufacturers.
Lu has also served on the Board of Directors of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., the parent company of Foxconn, where his strategic insight was instrumental in guiding the corporation through a pivotal period of transformation—helping solidify its position as a global leader in contract electronics manufacturing.
In 2011, in recognition of his professional accomplishments and contributions, Lu received the MechSE Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2015, was recognized with The Grainger College of Engineering Alumni Award for Distinguished Service.
In 2014, to honor his mother’s visionary support and steadfast belief in the power of education, Lu established the Tungchao Julia Lu Professorship in Mechanical Science and Engineering. When he was informed of the department’s Campaign to Transform MEB project, he immediately became its biggest champion. He pledged $12M to fund the 25,000-sqft east wing addition, stating a desire to invest in MechSE students’ education and innovation. This addition took on the name Sidney Lu Center for Learning and Innovation. In 2019, in recognition of his transformative total contributions of $21.5 million to the Campaign to Transform MEB project, MEB was renamed the Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building.
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The recognition events on Friday, November 14 feature a Fireside Chat with Lu and Krishna, and culminate that evening in a formal Gala and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Fireside Chat: Illini Rooms at the Illini Union, 2:30-3:30 pm
Meet and Greet: South Lounge at the Illini Union, 3:30-4:30 pm
Members of the community are invited to attend the Fireside Chat, which will also be streamed live. If attending in-person, please register.