SOURCE Sony Group Corporation

Three early- to mid-career researchers across science and engineering, recognised at second awards.

NEW YORK and LONDON and BERLIN and TOKYO, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Group Corporation ("Sony") and Nature today announce the 2026 recipients of the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature. Now in its second year, the award recognises exceptional early- to mid-career women researchers in technology (including science, engineering and mathematics), who through their research are driving a positive impact on society and the planet. The award grants each winner a prize of $250,000 to support and accelerate their technological research.

This year's winners are: 

Early-career 

  • Dr. Xiwen Gong, was awarded this year's early career prize for her research on the molecular and interfacial design of solution-processed semiconductors enabling continuous health monitoring and therapeutic interventions, advancing precision, and personalised healthcare. 

Mid-Career

  • Dr. Ellen Roche, selected for her interdisciplinary research in applying innovative technologies to the development of implantable and wearable medical devices, as well as building robotic and computational simulators for enhanced testing of device/ tissue interaction with the goal of improving cardiac care. 
  • Dr. Zhen Xu, selected for her pioneering work, as a co-inventor of the field of histotripsy, to allow non-invasive surgery using ultrasound without incision or injury. Xu's research in histotripsy addresses major global health challenges across cancer, neurology, and cardiovascular medicine and histotripsy treatment of liver tumors has received FDA approval. 

"We are honored to celebrate this year's Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature winners and finalists. Their pioneering contributions reflect the progress and impact this award was created to champion," says Hiroaki Kitano, Chief Technology Fellow of Sony Group Corporation. "These exceptional researchers are pushing the frontiers of science and technology, while inspiring the next generation of women to pursue bold, transformative ideas that benefit both society and the planet.  We look forward to championing their work and evolving the program in the years ahead. " 

Speaking on the award, Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature, said:
"The Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature celebrates the ingenuity and impact of early and mid-career women researchers whose technology innovations are shaping a better future for society and the planet. This year's finalists exemplify the transformative power of technology when combined with creativity and scientific excellence. Their excellence and dedication serve as an inspiration for the next generation of women in STEM, and we are proud to celebrate their contributions to making a more inclusive future for research and technology."  

About Sony Group Corporation
Sony Group Corporation is a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation of technology. Across its business segments - Game & Network Services; Music; Pictures; Entertainment, Technology & Services; and Imaging & Sensing Solutions - Sony's purpose is to fill the world with emotion through the power of creativity and technology. For more information, visit: https://www.sony.com/en/ 

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Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature – founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries. 

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with content, including news and comment from the Nature journal, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio.

About Springer Nature
Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature. 

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