*****For immediate use January 18^th, 2001

IEEE To Award the Robert N. Noyce Medal to NEC Chairman, Hajime Sasaki

TOKYO January 18^th, 2001 - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) is to award NEC Corporation (NEC) Chairman, Hajime Sasaki, the 2001 Robert N. Noyce Medal, "for contributions to, and leadership in, the technology and business development of semiconductor devices and the harmonization of the global semiconductor industry." The award will be presented to Mr. Sasaki at a ceremony to be held on June 23, 2001 at the Liberty Science Center, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

"I am deeply honored and humbled at receiving such recognition from my colleagues in the industry at the IEEE," said Chairman Sasaki in response to the news. "It is difficult to believe one's name can be associated with the likes of industry leaders such as Robert Noyce."

Hajime Sasaki entered NEC in April 1961 at the age of 25 after obtaining a Master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tokyo. He immediately joined the company designing integrated circuits for communications applications. His senior management career began at NEC's semiconductor business from 1982 when he became General Manager of the VLSI Development Division. After becoming Senior Vice President in 1991, Mr. Sasaki was appointed to head the Semiconductor Group (now part of NEC Electron Devices), overseeing its growth from 750 billion Yen in production sales at that time to 1,020 billion Yen in 1998 when he was appointed Chairman of NEC Corporation.

Mr. Sasaki lists several major accomplishments during his career at the head of NEC's semiconductor business. His work as the Chairman of the Steering Committee of Electron Devices at the former Electronics Industry Association of Japan (EIAJ) promoted significant global collaboration and harmonization in the semiconductor industry between 1992-94. This leadership continued with his role in inaugurating the first collaborative attempt by ten Japanese semiconductor companies to draw-up a long-term plan for contributing to society through the Semiconductor Industry Research Institute of Japan (SIRIJ) and position as its first Executive Director in 1994.

Among Mr. Sasaki's other industry activities are his experience as President of Semiconductor Leading Edge Technologies, Inc. (SELETE) from 1996 to 1998. He also made a significant contribution to the progress of the US-Japan semiconductor meeting and to global harmonization between Europe, Japan, Korea and the US in the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), of which he was named Chairman in April 1997.

Hajime Sasaki has also previously been honored with the title of IEEE Fellow in January 1996 and the IEEE Millennium Medal in February 2000, as well as by his countrymen with the April 1995 Award for Persons of Scientific and Technological Merits by the Japanese Government's Science and Technology Agency.

Background on the IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal
The IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal was established by the IEEE for exceptional contributions to the microelectronics industry. Preference is given to individuals who have demonstrated contributions in multiple areas including technology development, business development, industry leadership, development of technology policy, and standards development.

The IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal consists of a gold medal, bronze replica, certificate and a cash honorarium. The award was presented for the first time in 2000.

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) (TSE: 6701) is a leading provider of Internet solutions, dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its customers in the key computer, network and electron device fields through its three market-focused in-house companies: NEC Solutions, NEC Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Corporation, with its in-house companies, employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and saw net sales of 4,991 billion Yen (approx. US$48 billion) in fiscal year 1999-2000. For further information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec-global.com

• Career History for Hajime Sasaki

***

                        Media Contact:
                        Aston Bridgman	
                        NEC Corporation	
                        Tel:	+81-3-3798-6511
                        Fax:	+81-3-3457-7249
                        E-mail: a-bridgman@ak.jp.nec.com