Einstein Foundation Award 2026 offers €350,000 prize for research quality

The Einstein Foundation Award 2026 will award €350,000 across three categories and is accepting submissions and nominations through April 30, 2026.

The Einstein Foundation Award 2026 recognizes work that strengthens rigor, reliability, and transparency in research across disciplines. It is presented by the Einstein Foundation Berlin together with the BIH QUEST Center for Responsible Research. The prize totals €350,000 and is distributed across three categories. Submissions and nominations are accepted through April 30, 2026, and winners are to be announced at the end of the year. Key details: - Total prize amount: €350,000, dedicated to advancing research quality across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and life sciences. - Award categories and amounts: Individual Award (€150,000) for researchers or small groups, Institutional Award (€100,000) for institutions and initiatives, and Early Career Award (€100,000) for researchers at the beginning of their careers. - Timeline: submission deadline April 30, 2026; winners announced at the end of 2026. - Jury: an international panel chaired by Marcia McNutt with Suzy Styles as vice chair, representing diverse disciplines and regions. - Funding and partners: the Individual and Institutional Awards are funded by Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft, the Early Career Award is funded by the BIH QUEST Center, and additional support comes from the State of Berlin and partners including Nature Portfolio, PLOS, the National Academy of Sciences, the Berlin University Alliance, the Max Planck Society, and the Max Planck Foundation. Summary: The award highlights initiatives that promote integrity, transparency, and reforms to research systems and incentive structures. Past winners cited in 2025 include Simine Vazire (Individual), the Brazilian Reproducibility Initiative (Institutional), and Maximilian Sprang (Early Career). Submissions will be evaluated by the international jury chaired by Marcia McNutt, and winners will be announced at the end of 2026.