IVA’s Gold Medal 2025: Daniel Stenberg – the architect behind a global communications backbone
From Huddinge to the Moon. Through his work with open-source software, Daniel Stenberg has built a technological foundation that quite literally reaches into space. With curl, he has created a tool that has become an indispensable part of digital communication – not only on Earth, but also between our planet and other celestial bodies.
Building a global standard – from a home office in Huddinge
Born in 1970 in Huddinge, Daniel Stenberg showed an early passion for open source and internet protocols, teaching himself computer programming. In 1996, he began developing what would become curl – a library for transferring data via URLs –now a fundamental component of global software architecture.
For nearly three decades, Stenberg has been the lead developer and driving force behind the curl project, which includes both a command-line tool and a function library for data transfer.
Over the years, curl has become a crucial part of the internet’s infrastructure. Services such as YouTube, Instagram and Spotify rely on it, and it is estimated to be installed in 20 to 40 billion instances – in computers, mobile phones, cars and countless other connected devices.
Through technical precision, openness and remarkable persistence, Daniel Stenberg has built a tool used for everything from mobile apps fetching weather data to software updates in vehicles, industrial sensor networks and communication with instruments on the Moon and Mars. Curl has become a vital link in the chain that enables communication not only across our planet, but also between Earth and space.
Engineering excellence on a global scale
Curl is a shining example of Swedish engineering at its finest. Through inclusive and long-term collaboration, Daniel Stenberg has built global trust in a technology that underpins critical infrastructure. He has led the project from his home in Huddinge, together with thousands of volunteer programmers around the world – always as open source, to maximise transparency, utility and reach.
Daniel Stenberg is a role model for future engineers: independent, curious, principled and deeply responsible. His work demonstrates that sustained open-source development not only drives innovation but also builds resilience in a world – and a universe – where digital communication is essential.
Recognition and influence
Stenberg’s achievements have earned widespread recognition, both in Sweden and internationally. In 2017, he received the Polhem Prize, Sweden’s oldest and most prestigious technology award. In 2025, he was honoured with the European Open Source Achievement Award for his long-term and significant contributions to the open source movement. He has also been awarded the Google Open Source Peer Bonus five times.
“Sometime in middle school I discovered computers — and that you could actually programme them. I was fascinated by what you could create, and that you could do it yourself. In a way, that discovery laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since.”
Daniel Stenberg
Citation for IVA’s Gold Medal
Daniel Stenberg, software developer, is awarded IVA’s Gold Medal for his outstanding contributions to software development, where he has played a central role in internet infrastructure and open source software. Through his work with curl – a tool now used by billions of devices worldwide – he has enabled reliable and secure data transfer over the internet, not only between traditional computer programmes but also across smartphones, vehicles, satellites and spacecraft.
IVA's Gold Medal
For more than a century, IVA has celebrated excellence in technology, economics, business and society by awarding Gold Medals to people who, through their outstanding achievements, have helped to create a better society.
IVA's Gold Medal is awarded for meritorious work within the academy's field of activity.
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