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| Prix de l'Innovation Européen | |
|---|---|
| Name | Prix de l'Innovation Européen |
| Awarded for | Innovation in science, technology, industry, and culture |
| Presenter | European institutions and private foundations |
| Country | European Union and Council of Europe member states |
| Year | 2000 |
Prix de l'Innovation Européen The Prix de l'Innovation Européen is a continental award recognizing breakthroughs in science, technology, health, energy, and culture. It aims to highlight achievements that intersect with policies of the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the European Union, European Council, and major United Nations agencies. Recipients include researchers associated with institutions such as Max Planck Society, CNRS, Karolinska Institutet, ETH Zurich, and corporations like Siemens, Philips, and Nokia.
The award was established at the turn of the 21st century with support from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the Council of Europe, and leading philanthropic bodies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. Early patrons included representatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Health Organization, the European Space Agency, and research networks tied to CERN, EMBL, and ESO. Founding ceremonies featured speakers linked to the European Research Council, the European Patent Office, the International Monetary Fund, and cultural institutions like the Louvre, the British Museum, and the Palace of Versailles.
Eligible candidates typically include principal investigators from universities and institutes such as University of Oxford, Sorbonne University, University of Cambridge, Heidelberg University, and Sapienza University of Rome, as well as innovators from companies including AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, Roche, and GlaxoSmithKline. The criteria emphasize originality recognized by bodies like the European Research Council, commercial viability assessed by the European Investment Bank, ethical compliance in line with the European Court of Human Rights, and impact as measured through collaborations with agencies such as the European Medicines Agency and the European Environment Agency.
Nominations are submitted by universities, corporations, and consortia including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe participants, national ministries such as the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France), and non-governmental groups like European Digital Rights and Friends of Europe. A jury composed of representatives from the European Research Council, the Royal Society, the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the Academia Europaea evaluates candidates. Shortlists are announced in coordination with institutions like the Frankfurt Book Fair and announced at venues including the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, the Royal Opera House, and the Berlinale.
Award categories have spanned sectors represented by organizations such as CERN (physics), EMBL (life sciences), ESA (space), ENTSO-E (energy), and EIT Digital (digital innovation). Prizes include monetary grants underwritten by the European Investment Bank and medals struck by mints including the Monnaie de Paris, scholarships connected to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and honorary fellowships with bodies like the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Académie des sciences, and the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron. Special awards have honored collaborations with cultural partners such as the European Cultural Foundation and the European Film Academy.
Laureates often gain accelerated funding from programs including Horizon Europe, partnerships with corporations such as ABB, TotalEnergies, and Volkswagen Group, and visibility in media outlets like Le Monde, Der Spiegel, The Guardian, El País, and Corriere della Sera. Recognition has boosted collaborations with laboratories at Imperial College London, Technische Universität München, University of Copenhagen, and institutes linked to Rockefeller University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Awarded projects have influenced directives debated in the European Parliament, procurement decisions by the European Commission, and strategic plans at the European Investment Fund.
Recipients have included principal investigators from Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, discovery teams from CERN associated with the Large Hadron Collider, translational groups from Karolinska Institutet and Institut Pasteur, and technology entrepreneurs linked to ARM Holdings, Spotify, Dyson, and ASML Holding. Other laureates encompass interdisciplinary consortia featuring members from ETH Zurich, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, University of Barcelona, and University of Warsaw.
Critics from think tanks such as Bruegel, Chatham House, and Transparency International have questioned selection transparency and lobbying by corporations like Google, Amazon, and Facebook (Meta Platforms). Debates have involved legal scholars from European Court of Justice contexts, ethics panels tied to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, and media outlets including The Times and Financial Times. Concerns have been raised about regional representation across member states of the Council of Europe, alignment with priorities of the European Commission, and influence from private funders including the Koch Foundation and venture capital firms in the European Investment Fund network.
Category:European awards