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| Atomes d'or Prize | |
|---|---|
| Name | Atomes d'or Prize |
| Awarded for | Outstanding achievements in molecular chemistry and nanoscience |
| Presenter | Institut Lumière des Molécules |
| Country | France |
| First awarded | 1978 |
Atomes d'or Prize
The Atomes d'or Prize is an international award recognizing landmark contributions to molecular chemistry, nanoscience, and atomic-scale technologies. Established by the Institut Lumière des Molécules and supported by a consortium of European and global research organizations, the prize has honored scholars, inventors, and institutions whose work spans synthesis, spectroscopy, catalysis, and nanoscale fabrication. Recipients include faculty, laboratory directors, and interdisciplinary teams whose research influenced industrial applications and academic research worldwide.
The prize was founded in 1978 by the Institut Lumière des Molécules in collaboration with the Fondation Pasteur and the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie, emerging during a period marked by breakthroughs at laboratories such as the Curie Institute, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, and Bell Laboratories. Early laureates included researchers associated with Cambridge University, Harvard University, Columbia University, and ETH Zurich, reflecting ties to institutions like the Royal Society, CNRS, and the National Science Foundation. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the award tracked advances linked to discoveries at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and IBM Research. Partnerships with organizations such as the European Research Council, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and Fondation Newton broadened the prize’s international profile. In the 21st century, the prize adapted to emerging priorities exemplified by work at MIT, Stanford University, Kyoto University, and Peking University, and it acknowledged breakthroughs resonant with initiatives from UNESCO, the European Commission, and the World Economic Forum.
Nominations are solicited from a global nominating committee comprising representatives from institutions like the Royal Society of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The selection panel includes laureates from prior years, members affiliated with institutions such as Sorbonne University, University of California Berkeley, and the Indian Institute of Science, alongside advisors from CERN and the Max Planck Society. Criteria emphasize originality, reproducibility, and demonstrable impact on fields represented by laboratories at MIT Media Lab, Caltech, and the Scripps Research Institute. Considerations parallel benchmarks used by awards like the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Wolf Prize, and the Kavli Prize, while also reflecting priorities of agencies such as DARPA and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The process involves peer review, site visits to facilities like Sandia National Laboratories and RIKEN, and consultation with patent offices including the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office when relevant.
Laureates have included pioneering scientists and teams with affiliations to institutions such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Princeton University, University of Tokyo, and Imperial College London. Recipients have overlapped with winners of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal, and Lasker Award; notable names have had connections to laboratories at Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Rockefeller University, and the University of Chicago. The roster spans researchers from Cornell University, UCLA, University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of Melbourne, with contributions linked to work at institutions such as the RIKEN Center, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, and Schlumberger-Doll Research. Teams from industrial research groups at BASF, Roche, Novartis, and Siemens have also been recognized, alongside pioneers associated with institutions like the Keio University, University of São Paulo, and South African National Research Foundation.
The annual ceremony takes place in Lyon at venues connected to Institut Lumière des Molécules and often features addresses by dignitaries from UNESCO, the European Commission, and ministries of science from France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Presentations have included speakers affiliated with Harvard Medical School, Yale University, and the Pasteur Institute, and have been chaired by figures from the Académie des Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Honorees receive a gold-plated statuette, a monetary award underwritten by partners including BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, and the Rothschild Foundation, and invitations to deliver lectures at partner institutions such as the Collège de France, MIT, and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Post-ceremony symposia frequently involve collaborations with journals and publishers like Nature, Science, Angewandte Chemie, and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The prize is regarded as influential within communities centered on molecular engineering, nanotechnology, and materials science, with press coverage appearing in outlets like Le Monde, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Nature News. Commentary from professional societies such as the Royal Society, American Physical Society, and European Materials Research Society has noted the prize’s role in elevating research agendas at universities and national laboratories including Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Critics and commentators in publications associated with the Brookings Institution and the Centre for European Policy Studies have examined the award’s ties to industry partners and its effects on research funding priorities at institutions like the Wellcome Trust and Gates Foundation. Overall, the prize has been credited with catalyzing collaborations linking universities, national laboratories, and multinational corporations.
Key institutional partners include the Institut Lumière des Molécules, Fondation Pasteur, CNRS, Collège de France, and the European Research Council. Longstanding partnerships involve the Max Planck Society, Helmholtz Association, INSERM, and the Italian CNR, alongside links to universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, and Tsinghua University. Corporate and philanthropic partners have included Airbus, L’Oréal, TotalEnergies, Google DeepMind, and the Wellcome Trust, and collaborative programs have engaged bodies like Horizon Europe, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and national ministries of research from France, Germany, China, India, and Japan. These networks support fellowships, joint research initiatives, and visiting professorships at institutions such as the National University of Singapore, University of Cape Town, and KAUST.
Category:Science awards