Which medal did Bill Gates and Microsoft receive from the U.S. government in 1992?

Bill Gates and Microsoft received the National Medal of Technology in 1992. The award recognized their contributions to the development and commercialization of personal-computer software.

The National Medal of Technology was created by the United States government to honor technological innovation that benefits society or strengthens American industry. Microsoft’s work helped make software platforms and applications central to the rapidly expanding personal-computer market.

This award is distinct from the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which Gates received much later, in 2016. The 1992 technology medal recognized Microsoft’s software achievements during the company’s major growth period.