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 and highly regarded awards for outstanding achievements in:

• scientific research
• research-based innovation
• excellence in science teaching

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science will award up to $1.4 million each year for achievements across 3 prize categories:

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

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.

To be eligible for a Science Prize, a nominee must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• not be self-nominated
• not be nominated in more than one prize category. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one category, the department will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue.
• meet the specific eligibility criteria for the nominated prize

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

• Phone: 13 28 46
• Website: https://www.business.gov.au/Forms/Email-us