Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
Key Dates
- Round opens: 5 November 2026
- Stage 1 Nominations due to UQ Research Office: 18 December 2026
- Stage 1 Nominations close with DISR: 5pm AEDT, 7 January 2027
- Stage 2 (invitation only): 13 April to 6 May 2027
Overview
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious science prizes. They are part of the Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Program.
The prizes acknowledge:
- Science Prizes: scientists and innovators across diverse disciplines and career stages
- Knowledge System Prize: contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems to science, our nation and humanity.
The nomination process involves 2 stages:
- Stage 1: This stage is intended as a shortlisting stage. The nominator completes an online nomination form addressing the nominee’s achievements against the relevant eligibility and assessment criteria, together with confirmation of two supporters and two independent referees.
- Stage 2: Only shortlisted nominees are invited to proceed to Stage 2. The nominator and supporters prepare a more comprehensive submission addressing the assessment criteria, and references are requested from nominated independent referees.
Please note that requirements vary between prize categories and stages of the process. We encourage you to review the guidelines for your chosen prize carefully before proceeding.
Previous nominees are eligible for renomination.
Science Prizes
The Science Prizes are for Australian scientists and innovators, whose achievements benefit Australia and the rest of the world.
There are five science prizes for science and innovation:
Prize | Description | Prize amount |
|---|---|---|
Prime Minister’s Prize for Science | For a significant advancement of knowledge through science. This prize can be awarded to an individual or a team of up to 4 individuals to recognise a collaborative effort. | $250,000 |
Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation | For the commercialisation or translation of scientific knowledge into an available product, service or process that has demonstrated substantial economic, social and, where relevant, environmental benefits. This prize can be awarded to an individual or a team of up to 4 individuals to recognise a collaborative effort. | $250,000 |
Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year | For an exceptional achievement in physical science that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human welfare or society by early to mid-career scientists. | $50,000 |
Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year | For an exceptional achievement in physical science that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human welfare or society by early to mid-career scientists. | $50,000 |
Prize for New Innovators | For an early achievement towards commercialising or translating scientific research with economic, social, and where relevant, environmental benefits. | $50,000 |
Eligibility criteria
Nominees for any of the above Science Prizes must:
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia (they can be currently living or studying overseas)
- Not be self-nominated
- Not be nominated in more than one prize category (if this happens, the nominator must select a prize to pursue).
- Meet any additional eligibility requirements specific to the nominated prize:
- Eligible fields of science – see Guidelines Section 2.3
- Nominee eligibility criteria – see Guidelines Section 4
Nomination information
Who can nominate?
The Nominator is the person nominating a nominee. To be eligible to submit a nomination for a Science Prize, a nominator must:
- not be a close family member of the nominee
- be personally knowledgeable of the nominated achievement and be able to offer informed opinions about its significance
- hold professional qualifications in the same, or a closely related field as the nominee
- ensure the nominee is eligible and willing to be nominated and provide evidence necessary to support the nomination.
A person can be a nominator for more than one nomination.
Supporters
A Supporter is an individual identified by the nominator as someone who will support the nomination. All supporters (2 required) must:
- not be the nominator, or a referee of the nomination
- not be a close family member of the nominee
- be personally knowledgeable of the nominated achievement and be able to offer informed opinions about its significance
- not have a role in the nominated project
- be from a different organisation to the nominator and the nominee
- For the Prize for Science and Prize for Innovation categories, this applies to both supporters
- For the other prizes, at least one supporter must meet this criterion.
- provide a written statement of support addressing each assessment criterion (Stage 2)
Independent referees
An Independent Referee is identified by the nominator and is responsible for providing a referee report at Stage 2, following review of the nominator's and supporters' responses to the assessment criteria. All referees (2 required) must:
- Not be the nominator, or a supporter of the nomination
- Not be related to the nominee or have a professional relationship that would cause a conflict of interest that could unnecessarily bias the independence of the referee
- Provide a written referee report (Stage 2)
- At least one referee must be based overseas (this applies to Prize for Science and Prize for Innovation only).
Guidelines
For further information, including guidelines and key documents, additional eligibility requirements and templates, please visit the Science and Innovation Prizes website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems Prize
Prize | Description | Prize amount |
|---|---|---|
Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems | Recognises Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led projects that benefit Australian Indigenous peoples, communities or place, and contributes to solving a significant challenge through the practice and preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems. This prize can be awarded to an individual, a team of up to 4 individuals, or up to 4 representatives of a community group. | $250,000 |
Eligibility criteria
Nominees for the Knowledge Systems Prize must:
- be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
- be an individual, a member of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led team (including family groups), or a representative of a community group
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
- not be self-nominated
- not be nominated in more than one prize category (if this happens, we will ask them to select a prize to pursue).
- practice knowledge systems as part of a project with a demonstrable benefit to Australian Indigenous peoples, communities and/or place and to Australia more broadly.
- Meet any additional eligibility requirements specific to the prize – see Guidelines Section 4.
Nomination information
Who can nominate?
The Nominator is the person nominating a nominee. To be eligible to submit a nomination for a Knowledge Systems Prize, a nominator must:
- not be a close family member of the nominee
- be personally knowledgeable of the nominated achievement and be able to offer informed opinions about its significance
- ensure the nominee is eligible and willing to be nominated and provide evidence necessary to support the nomination.
Supporters
A Supporter is an individual identified by the nominator as someone who will support the nomination. All supporters (at least 2 required) must:
- not be the nominator, or a referee of the nomination
- not be a close family member of the nominee
- be personally knowledgeable of the nominated achievement and be able to offer informed opinions about its significance
- not have a role in the nominated project (excluding the supporter who is a knowledge holder from the knowledge system being practiced in the project)
- Meet any additional supporter eligibility requirements specific to the prize – see Guidelines Section 4.4
- provide a written statement or an audio/video submission of support (Stage 2).
Independent referees
An Independent Referee is identified by the nominator and is responsible for reviewing the statement of claims against the assessment criteria provided by the nominator and supporters. All referees (2 required) must:
- not be the nominator, or a supporter of the nomination
- not be related to the nominee or have a professional relationship that would cause a conflict of interest that could unnecessarily bias the independence of the referee
- provide a written referee report or audio/video submission (Stage 2).
Guidelines
For further information, including guidelines, additional eligibility requirements and templates, please visit the Knowledge Systems Prize website
Responsibilities of a Nominator
The nominator is responsible for leading and coordinating the nomination process, ensuring eligibility, obtaining supporting evidence, preparing the written submission, and managing all materials required throughout the two-stage process.
Key responsibilities:
- Familiarise yourself with key prize documentation, including the guidelines and templates, so that you know what you would need to prepare at each stage of the nomination
- Confirm the participation and eligibility for all nominees, supporters and referees:
- Ensure the nominee is eligible for the prize, is willing to be nominated, and understands the obligations associated with the prize and can provide the evidence required to support the nomination.
- Identify and confirm two eligible supporters who can endorse the nomination and provide informed opinions on the nominee’s achievements against the selection criteria.
- Identify and confirm two eligible independent referees who can review the nominator and supporters’ responses to the assessment criteria and provide a report. Please note that any requests to change an Independent Referee at Stage 2 are subject to the funder's discretion and will generally only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
- Prepare detailed responses to the assessment criteria and coordinate any required attachments and supporting evidence, such as the nominee’s CV, supporter statements, and referee reports.
- Create and submit the nomination via the Business.gov.au Portal.
How to apply – Stage 1
Step 1. UQ Notice of Intent (NOI)
- All Nominators intending to submit a prize nomination should please notify the UQ Research Office at grants@research.uq.edu.au as soon as possible, and provide details of the confirmed nominee/s, supporters and referees.
Step 2. Preparing the nomination in the portal
- Both Nominators and Nominees must register an account for the Business.gov.au Portal.
- The Nominator must create a "New Application" in the Portal, by following the below steps:
- At the "Program Selection" section, please select the following:
- Are you a trustee acting on behalf of a trust? No
- Do you have an ABN? No
- What type of entity are you? Individual; Please then enter your details, and select "An ABN is not required for a prize".
- Select the Prize category you are nominating the nominee/s for from the drop-down. IMPORTANT: Please note that this selection cannot be altered after you continue to the next section.
- Complete all Eligibility questions in Section 3. Remember to hit "Save and Continue" before the next step!
- Navigate to "Application Summary", and to the "Participants" tab. Please use the "Invite Participants" option to invite the Nominee and the RO as Nominator Representatives. This will send an email invite to the Nominee and the RO to allow view and co-edit access to the application.
- Nominee (using their email address), and
- UQ Research Office (please use Jodi Clyde-Smith, grants-manager@research.uq.edu.au)
- At the "Program Selection" section, please select the following:
Step 3. Completing the nomination
- Use the guidelines and templates provided by DISR to draft your nomination in the Business.gov.au Portal.
- We encourage the Nominee and the Nominator to collaborate on all sections of the nomination form to generate a compelling and cohesive narrative.
Step 4. Research Office internal review and feedback
- When ready for internal review, please ensure all fields in the form are completed, then save a copy of the draft application from the portal and email to grants@research.uq.edu.au by Friday 18 December 2026. Please note the Research Office will be closed during the UQ shutdown period from COB Thursday 24 December 2026, returning on Monday 4 January 2027.
- The Research Office will review the nomination and provide feedback for you to consider and/or incorporate before you submit the final nomination.
Step 5. Final submission
- When the nomination is complete and compliant, the Nominator will submit the nomination through the Business.gov.au Portal.