BII & Science Prize for Innovation
Name:
In collaboration with:
Purpose
Winner prize
Runner-up prize
ELIGIBILITY
Key outcome:
Location
Behind every life-changing solution is an entrepreneurial scientist – a creative mind who proved an idea in the lab and dared to carry it out in the world.
To encourage more scientists to translate their research, BioInnovation Institute (BII) and Science collaborate to host an annual award. Through the BioInnovation Institute & Science Prize for Innovation, the editors of Science seek to recognize bold researchers who are asking fundamental questions at the intersection of the life sciences and entrepreneurship.
Our three winners will have their essays published in Science and will be invited into BII’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, the Grand Prize winner will receive a prize of USD 25,000 and each runner-up will receive USD 10,000 at a grand award ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The deadline for applying is November 1. Click the apply button to read more about how to submit a 1000-word essay to the editors at Science.
“In today’s society, entrepreneurial scientists hold the key to unlocking new life-changing solutions. I am very proud of initiating this new prize for innovation in collaboration with AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) & Science magazine, one of the world’s leading scientific journals. The new BII & Science Prize for Innovation recognizes, encourages, and celebrates the work of entrepreneurial scientists by providing support in the early stages of their careers. Through the prize, we aim to bring more ideas to life and research to market for the benefit of people and society.”
“When we seek out a partner for Science/AAAS branded prizes, it is important for our partners to share the same values and align with our mission. The BioInnovation Institute Foundation (BII) is an organization that is passionate about nurturing early career researchers and providing them with the tools and knowledge to move their discoveries to the next stage– innovative solutions. BII provides expert guidance that allows scientists to become innovators in research. This is the reason why we are proud of our prize collaboration with BII.”
The prize is initiated though a collaboration between BII and Science, AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).
The BII & Science Prize for Innovation acknowledges the increasing translational potential within the life sciences of bringing ideas to life and science to market. The prize is started to recognize entrepreneurial talent and promote innovation in the life sciences.
The Prize will be awarded once a year.
Entrants must have finished their Ph.D.-level education within the last 10 years and must hold an M.D., Ph.D., D.V.M., Pharm.D., or combination of these degrees at the time of entry. If the applicant has more than one advanced degree, the 10 years are counted from the date that all degrees were completed in the case of uninterrupted training, such as a dual degree M.D.-Ph.D. program. The prize will be awarded annually to one young scientist based on work done in the past 3 years.
The editors of science seek to recognize bold researchers who are asking fundamental questions at the intersection of the life sciences and entrepreneurship. We seek scientists who can show that they have reached across field boundaries with an enthusiasm that has combined outstanding basic science with an eye towards application in the marketplace.
Successful applicants might have made significant advances in producing results that were protected as intellectual property and licensed to a commercial entity – for example, proprietary drugs and biologics, diagnostics, therapeutic interventions, health care information technology, or new solutions to biobased production of fuels, chemicals and foods. We welcome applications from those who take risks to address relevant and exciting questions with creative approaches, even if the outcome may be considered a negative result.
The prize is awarded for outstanding research performed by the applicant as described in a 1,000-word essay.
Science editors will screen the essays. A committee of scientists chaired by a Science Senior Editor, Deputy Editor, Editor or Editor in Chief, will select winners from the finalists. The essays will be judged on their scientific quality, the clarity and style of writing and translational potential. Science AAAS will control both the evaluation process and the announcement of the winner.
The prize is presented for outstanding research performed by the applicant as described in a 1,000-word essay.
The Grand Prize Winner Receives:
The Grand Prize winner will be awarded a cash prize of USD 25,000, and will be provided travel and accommodation for the awards ceremony, if applicable. They will also receive a 5-year digital subscription to Science, and have their winning essay published in Science, both in print and online.
Runner(s)-Up Receives:
Up to two runner(s)-up will receive USD 10,000, and be provided travel and accommodation for the awards ceremony, if applicable. They will also receive a 5-year digital subscription to Science, and their essay will be published in Science online.
The selected Grand Prize winner and runner(s)-up will have an opportunity to be paired with the business development team for evaluation of their eligibility for any BioInnovation Institute (BII) programs. If eligible, they will receive assistance for submission of a proposal to BII. All processes, rules, and policies related to such programs and all obligations related to selection and granting thereof are the sole responsibility of BII.
The entrant must submit the following items:
- A completed Entry Form.
- An essay, written by the entrant, that demonstrates their research as it relays to entrepreneurship. The essay must not exceed 1,000 words in length. The applicant must have done or directed all of the work, and it must have been performed in the last 3 years.
- A one-page letter of recommendation from the entrant’s postdoctoral adviser, supervisor, or other senior colleague who is familiar with their work.
- A curriculum vitae that includes the following:
- Full citations of papers that the entrant has published on the research described in the essay
- Academic and professional awards and honors that the entrant has received; and
- Relevant professional experience.
- Copies of two of the entrant’s papers that are most relevant to the essay.
The Entry Form and additional submission materials must be submitted electronically through our prize management system here.
Below is a timeline of the prize selection process. You will be contacted only if there are additional materials or information needed.
July/August/September/October/November 2022: Compilation and Review of Submissions
December 2022/January/February 2023: Selection of Award Winner(s)
April 2023: Announcement of Award Winner(s)
Spring 2023: Award Ceremony
The winner essays will be published in Science in the beginning of 2023.
The application deadline is November 1, 2022.
Please send an e-mail to [email protected] if you have any questions or inquiries.
Through the BioInnovation Institute & Science Prize for Innovation, the editors of Science seek to recognize bold researchers who are asking fundamental questions at the intersection of the life sciences and entrepreneurship. We seek scientists who can show that they have reached across field boundaries with an enthusiasm that combines outstanding basic science with an eye toward application in the marketplace.
Successful applicants might have made significant advances in producing results that were protected as intellectual property and licensed to a commercial entity—for example, proprietary drugs and biologics, diagnostics, therapeutic interventions, health care information technology, or new solutions for biobased production of fuels, chemicals, and foods. We welcome applications from those who take risks to address relevant and exciting questions with creative approaches, even if the outcome may be considered a negative result.
The prize is awarded for outstanding research performed by the applicant as described in a 1,000-word essay.
Deadline for Submissions: November 1, 2023
About Science / AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journals, Science, Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, Science Advances, Science Immunology, and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes some 254 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science, founded by Thomas Edison, has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of more than 400,000.
The non-profit AAAS—www.aaas.org—is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, and more. Science‘s daily online news is always free to the public, as are editorials, any paper with broad public health significance, and all research articles 12 months after publication. Science further participates in various efforts to provide free access for scientists in the world’s poorest countries.
About the BioInnovation Institute Foundation
The BioInnovation Institute foundation (BII) is an international commercial foundation with a nonprofit objective supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. BII operates an incubator to accelerate world-class life science innovation that drives the development of new solutions by early life science start-ups for the benefit of people and society.
BII, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, offers start-ups and early-stage projects within health tech, therapeutics, and bioindustrials state-of-the-art labs, vibrant office facilities, business development, start-up business incubation, access to high-level mentoring and international networks, plus unique funding opportunities of up to 1.3 million euro per start-up and 2.4 million euro per project.
Since the inauguration of BII in November 2018, BII has awarded 35 million euros to 68 high-growth start-up companies. Read more on here.
