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Neuron Awards editions

Look back at the atmosphere of the Neuron Awards ceremonies. Meet the scientists who raise the standing of Czech science in the world and have the courage to change the future.

Neuron Awards2025
Through their stories, the Neuron Award laureates show that science is not a solitary discipline but a living space where ideas, people and fields meet. Scientific work comes about through cooperation, sharing and the courage to ask new questions. It is curiosity that connects basic research with practice, the individual with the community, and science with society. The motto of the Neuron Awards 2025 therefore became Curiosity Connects — a reminder that real progress happens where different perspectives meet and where the desire for knowledge has room to grow. The ceremony of the prestigious Neuron Awards took place in January 2026 at the Prague Planetarium — a symbolic place that underlined the boundless dimension of human curiosity and knowledge.
Neuron Awards2024
Remarkable 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.
2023 Neuron Awards Laureates
The 2023 Neuron Award for promising scientists was awarded to Kateřina Rohlenová, Tomáš Slanina, Zuzana Kúkelová, Martin Schwarzer, Sylvie Graf, Martin Kozák and Lenka Slavíková. Among the laureates of this category, for the first time in the history of the awards ceremony, there are more female scientists than male scientists. The Neuron Foundation also presented one Neuron Award for connecting science and business, when it recognized the transfer of a scientific discovery by the spin-off company Lipidica, a.s. The highest award, the Neuron Award 2023 for lifetime contribution to science, was won by the internationally renowned Czech chemist František Švec, whose life story is the embodiment of the American scientific dream.
Neuron Awards2022
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
Neuron Awards2021
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
Neuron Awards2020
The eradication of smallpox, the treatment of people with HIV, the development of Viread and Remdesivir. 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's production The Elegance of the Molecule, which the Neuron Endowment Fund supported.
Neuron Awards2019
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.
Neuron Awards2018
In the presence of patrons and distinguished guests from cultural, public and media life, on 3 December we presented ten awards to the best Czech scientists in seven fields at the Profesní dům. The Neuron Award for Contribution to World Science went to the biologist Prof. Jan Klein; we presented three awards for a major scientific discovery and seven awards for young promising scientists. The evening was hosted by the presenter Světlana Witovská and the actor Martin Myšička.
Neuron Awards2017
The best Czech scientists, not yet 40 years old and already changing our future, received the Neuron Awards on 24 May. At the gala evening celebrating exceptional people we also sent three bold research teams out into the world, made a young student's dream come true and honoured the authors of four videos popularising science.
Neuron Awards2016
On Wednesday 18 May 2016 we presented the Neuron Award for Young Scientists to six young Czech talents. We introduced the leaders of two exotic Neuron Expeditions. We announced the winner of the best science video and handed little Marek a cheque to make his scientific dream come true. At the gala evening held on Thursday 24 November, nine young talented scientists also received Neuron Impuls grants totalling CZK 6,500,000 for research projects.
Neuron Awards2015
During the Neuron Science Future evening we announced the names of five new holders of the Neuron Award for Young Scientists. This honour was presented every year to scientists under 40 for outstanding scientific results. Along with the award, the laureates received cheques totalling 1,250,000 crowns in recognition of their work so far. On the second evening, 1 December 2015, the Neuron Awards for Contribution to World Science were presented at the Profesní dům on Malostranské náměstí to the best Czech scientists, whose research has significantly advanced world scientific knowledge and who have left an indelible mark on science.

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