FAU engineering’s Hari Kalva, Ph.D., a pioneering innovator in video technology, is one of 10 inventors selected for the 2025 class of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.
Hari Kalva, Ph.D., a pioneering innovator in video technology and professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been named a 2025 inductee of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. Kalva is one of 10 inventors selected for the 2025 class, which spans disciplines from nanotech and regenerative medicine to clean energy and next-gen video systems.
Their work has defined new frontiers, advanced scientific breakthroughs, and embodied the spirit of innovation that drives Florida’s expanding landscape of research and entrepreneurship.
“The 2025 inductees reflect the extraordinary breadth and depth of innovation flourishing in Florida and beyond,” said Sylvia Wilson Thomas, Ph.D., chair of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Advisory Board and vice president for research and innovation at the University of South Florida. “These individuals have not only advanced their fields but have created real-world solutions with global impact. We are proud to celebrate their vision, perseverance and ingenuity – the true hallmarks of innovation.”
Kalva, who also directs FAU’s Multimedia Lab (mlab.fau.edu), is a named inventor on 73 United States patents and 70 international patents. Several of these are essential to the widely adopted video standards AVC/H.264 and HEVC/H.265 – core technologies that enable nearly every modern streaming and broadcast platform. He is also credited with 14 U.S. patents that are standard-essential for VVC/H.266, the next-generation successor to HEVC. His work enables the pixels of modern life – from Netflix streams and Blu-ray discs to smartphones.
“Professor Kalva’s work is truly foundational to the global digital media landscape,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “His trailblazing technologies – licensed by major manufacturers through leading patent pools like Via LA and Access Advance – enable the video experiences we all rely on today, from 4K cable broadcasts in Japan to streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube. We are extremely proud of Dr. Kalva and this richly deserved recognition. His achievements not only elevate our university’s national and international profile but also exemplify the kind of innovation and impact we strive to foster at Florida Atlantic University.”
Beyond compression, Kalva co-developed the now-ubiquitous MP4 file format in the late 90s and pioneered the use of machine learning to speed up the time- and energy-intensive process of encoding video. Today, he’s helping shape video standards tailored for AI – where machines, not just humans, interpret the pixels. Together, his innovations have reduced video data transmission by up to 50% and broadened global access to high-quality media content.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to be inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame,” said Kalva. “This recognition is a personal milestone – and a reflection of the collaborative spirit and support I’ve been lucky to receive throughout my career. It reinforces the importance of innovation in shaping the future, and I hope it inspires our students and young researchers and entrepreneurs to pursue bold ideas and create meaningful solutions. I’m especially proud to represent Florida Atlantic University and I’m excited to help shape the next wave of inventors redefining what’s possible.”
Kalva is also an entrepreneur, having founded two technology ventures: Flavor Software, launched in 2000 to commercialize his doctoral research, and Videopura, a Boca Raton-based startup focused on AI-driven video compression. These ventures highlight the real-world impact of his academic research.
He has served as a U.S. delegate to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) subcommittees for video compression standards and advised both government agencies and industry leaders on multimedia technologies.
With 73 U.S. patents to his name, Kalva also is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a member of the Association for Computing Machinery. He earned his M.S.C.E. from FAU and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Columbia University.
Collectively, the 2025 inductees hold more than 460 U.S. patents and represent a distinct blend of academic excellence, entrepreneurial ingenuity and scientific leadership. Since its founding in 2013, the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame has inducted 87 inventors, who jointly hold more than 5,700 U.S. patents.
The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of Florida’s most prolific and impactful inventors. Through its annual induction ceremony, IGNITE education and outreach program, and the newly established Invention Convention Florida at USF, the Hall of Fame seeks to inspire future generations of inventors and foster a culture of innovation across the state. Nominations are open to all inventors (living or deceased) with a connection to the state of Florida. Inductees are selected through a rigorous review process conducted by a selection committee composed of distinguished leaders from academia, industry and government.
The 2025 class will be formally inducted at the Annual Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Gala on Friday, Oct. 31 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. For more information, visit www.floridainvents.org.
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