For the prestigious Neuron Awards 2026 we are looking for exceptional scientists who are leaving a significant international mark, and also for excellent young researchers (within ten years of their Ph.D., in the seven defined fields and connected with Czechia) whose work is a great promise for the future. A company will take home a Neuron Award as well, for a successful transfer of science into business.
Scientists can be nominated for the Neuron Award 2026 by researchers, academics or research organisations, by commercial entities or by investors. The nominations are assessed by Neuron's scientific board. Nominations were open until 30 April 2026 and closed at midnight that day. The scientific board of Nadace Neuron will assess all the names proposed and decide on the laureates.
We present this award to significant scientists who, through a discovery or through long-term work, have contributed fundamentally to the development of science, strengthened the name of the Czech Republic and are a model and an inspiration to others. The Neuron Award comes with a financial prize of CZK 1,500,000, and the international scientific board takes part in choosing the laureates.
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We present this award to scientists for the results they have achieved so far and as encouragement for their further work. The Neuron Award for excellent young scientists comes with a prize of CZK 500,000 and is decided by the scientific board in seven fields (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, computer science and social sciences).
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This award goes to the scientists, transfer specialists or spin-off team who carried out an exceptional transfer and were the key people thanks to whom a discovery or invention moved from basic research all the way to commercial use. The award comes with CZK 500,000 and with the chance of mentoring, media coverage and a connection to Neuron's business community.
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We present the Neuron Rising Star Award to exceptionally talented students who reach world level while still young. We reward their outstanding scientific results and their courage to go their own way and push the boundaries of knowledge. The award comes with a financial prize of CZK 100,000, and its symbol is a glass prism representing the spectrum of knowledge.
More informationRemarkable scientific personalities along with the beauty of science were celebrated at 2024 Neuron Awards. The Neuron Foundation honoured one scientist with the Neuron Award 2024 for Lifetime Contribution to Science, seven promising scientists, and one scientific patent successfully transferred to business. The Neuron Award for Fostering Love of Science, recognizing extraordinary teachers and science popularizers, had its debut at the awards ceremony. Science is Beautiful was the overarching theme of the awards ceremony.
The prestigious Neuron Awards 2023 have their laureates: Nadace Neuron na podporu vědy honoured seven promising scientists, and among the laureates are the most women in the history of the award. With the Neuron Award for Connecting Science and Business it honoured one transfer of a scientific discovery. The highest honour, the Neuron Award 2023 for Lifetime Contribution to Science, went to an outstanding figure whose contribution has reached beyond Czech science. The evening was hosted by Karel Kovář / Kovy, together with the patrons of Nadace Neuron and the guarantors of the scientific board.
The Neuron Endowment Fund for the Support of Science presented the Neuron Awards to the best Czech scientists. During the gala evening of 16 October 2022, the prestigious honour was received by six promising scientists, one science-transfer project concerned with energy storage, and two scientists whose life's work has enriched world research. The evening at the National Museum was hosted by Karel Kovář, Kovy. Meet the new laureates and look back at the atmosphere of the Neuron Awards 2022. Final report: A Neuron Award for a paediatric haematologist, a world-class chemist, six promising scientists and a science transfer
On 28 September 2021 the Neuron Endowment Fund presented three Neuron Awards for Lifetime Contribution to Science, seven awards for young promising scientists, and — for the first time — the Neuron Award for Exceptional Connection of Science and Business. The gala evening in the Pantheon of the National Museum and its live broadcast were hosted by Karel Kovář, Kovy. The following day the laureates met for a debate at Opero, where they answered questions from Ondřej Cihlář and from the public. Look back at the most important names and moments of the Neuron Awards 2021. Final report: A brilliant mathematician, a world-class physicist and a discoverer of new molecules. The Neuron Awards 2021 know their laureates
The eradication of smallpox, the treatment of people with HIV, the development of antivirals. We owe these and many other world successes to Tomáš Cihlář and Karel Raška. On 28 September 2020 the Neuron Endowment Fund therefore presented them with Extraordinary Neuron Awards. The gala evening at the State Opera closed with the Dejvice Theatre production The Elegance of the Molecule.
For the tenth time, the Neuron Endowment Fund for the Support of Science presented the Neuron Awards to seven scientists and one scientist of international standing on 6 November 2019 in the hall of the National Museum. The highest honour — the Neuron Award for Lifetime Contribution to Science — went to the plant biologist Jiří Friml; the Neuron Award for Major Scientific Discovery was received by the mathematician Jan Nekovář. Six young talented scientists were honoured as well.
Previous Neuron Awards
Previous Neuron Awards
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