The institute has attracted for researchers from all over the world, including Alexander Graham Bell Medal winner Tsuneo Nakahara, who in 1961 was a visiting research associate of the institute, and who went on to be vice chairman of the Sumitomo Electric Company.
2002 - John Midwinter, Pender Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, University College London and President, IEE, and Tsuneo Nakahara, Advisor and CEO, Sumitomo Electric Industries, For pioneering contributions to the physical understanding, manufacture, and deployment of optical fiber communications systems.