Prizes for Australian scientists and innovators

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Science Prizes award Australian scientists and innovators with prizes to recognise demonstrated achievements in science and research-based innovation and commercialisation.

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious awards for achievements in:

• scientific research and research-based innovation
• the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
• excellence in science teaching.

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science expects to award approximately $1.4 million each year (2027, 2028 and 2029), noting the total funding awarded in any year may vary if more than one recipient is awarded a prize, for achievements across 3 prize categories:

• the Science Prizes
• the Science Teaching Prizes
• the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems Prize.

We particularly encourage the nomination of candidates from diverse backgrounds and of all gender identities.

There are 5 science prizes for science and innovation:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Science ($250,000)
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation ($250,000)
• Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year ($50,000)
• Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year ($50,000)
• Prize for New Innovators ($50,000)

Each prize recipient receives a medallion, lapel pin, prize money as described above and an award certificate. Where the prize is awarded to a team, each member will receive a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and an equal portion of the prize money. The Minister may approve more than one recipient for each Science Prize, subject to the availability of grant funds. We may recognise highly ranked nominees through the awarding of highly commended certificates.

To be eligible for a Science Prize, nominees must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia (nominees currently living or studying overseas are not precluded from being nominated)
• not be self-nominated
• not be nominated for more than one prize per year across the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one prize, we will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue at Stage 1
• meet the specific eligibility criteria for the nominated prize.

Nominees do not need to be a member of a professional association or have received any prior award to be eligible.

Previous nominees are eligible for renomination. A new nomination must be submitted by a nominator via the online nomination form.

Find out more about the nomination process at Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Science Prizes.