The GiovedìScienza National Award, now in its 15th edition in 2026, aims to stimulate communication in science and affirm the centrality of scientific information and dissemination as a lever for social progress. Focusing on the ability to disseminate information, the GiovedìScienza National Award recognizes the work of young researchers who, through their activities, contribute to the development and innovation of the country.
The initiative is promoted by the association CentroScienza Onlus, an organization recognized by the public, authorities, and institutions for its proven ability to devise and implement initiatives aimed at spreading scientific and technological culture. Among the projects developed by the association, the best known and most established is GiovedìScienza, which reached its 40th edition in the 2025/2026 season, becoming one of the longest-running scientific dissemination initiatives in Italy and Europe: for forty years, through a program of conferences, it has contributed to making research and current affairs accessible to the public.
The aim of the initiative
Scientific research is a key driver for improving people's quality of life and well-being. From advances in healthcare to new technologies, from solutions for sustainable energy management to strategies for combating climate change, scientific knowledge helps build a healthier, fairer, and more resilient society.
In order for these benefits to truly reach all citizens, it is necessary to promote clear, accessible, and participatory scientific communication that is capable of highlighting the results of research and making the opportunities it offers for individual and collective well-being understandable.
In this context, the direct involvement of researchers in communication plays a strategic role not only in promoting innovation and knowledge transfer, but also in supporting a responsible entrepreneurial spirit, geared towards developing solutions that respond to the real needs of people and communities, generating a positive and lasting social impact.
Who can participate
The GiovedìScienza Award is aimed at researchers under the age of 35 who have achieved significant scientific and technological results while working at an Italian research institution.
The Award offers candidates a three-stage process that begins with an assessment of scientific merit: the application (open to all), the selection (carried out by the Scientific Committee of the GiovedìScienza Award to identify the 10 finalists), and the competition (reserved for the finalists).
The call for applications is open to scientists and researchers under the age of 35 who meet the requirements set out in the Award Regulations. Applications must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. of March 3, 2026.
The prizes
The 15th edition of the initiative will offer various opportunities to its winners:
- The absolute winner of the GiovedìScienza Award will receive a cash prize of €5,000 and will be included in the program for the next edition of GiovedìScienza (2026/2027) with a dedicated conference.
- The GiovedìScienza "Futuro" Award, established in 2016 and now in its eleventh edition, encourages young researchers to imagine the concrete realization of their projects. Candidates submit a feasibility study based on the hypothetical availability of a budget of €50,000, demonstrating how their ideas can be translated into real and applicable solutions capable of generating social impact and innovation. In this process, the innovation ecosystem, which supports the worlds of research, scientific communication, and education, becomes a key partner, promoting dialogue between science and the economy. The winner of the GiovedìScienza "Futuro" Award will receive a cash prize of €3,000.
- Since 2017, the "Elena Benaduce" Special Award, now in its tenth edition, has been promoting research capable of having a concrete impact on people's well-being and quality of life. The winner is chosen from among the ten finalists by the students of the Popular Jury, with the aim of promoting projects that focus on personal care and have a positive impact on society. The winner of the "Elena Benaduce" Special Award will receive a cash prize of €3,000.
- Since 2018, the establishment of the "Industry 4.0" Award, which in 2024 became the "Sustainable and Digital Enterprise" Award, with an increasing focus on sustainability integrated with digitalization. The award is dedicated to project proposals in which digital technology becomes a tool for greener and more responsible production, in line with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles and the concept of Twin Transition, where technological innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. The winner of the "Sustainable and Digital Enterprise" Award will receive a cash prize of €3,000 and a support program aimed at developing the project.
The 10 finalists and the winners of the Special Awards will also have the opportunity to:
- participate in a training course dedicated to science communication. The sessions will take place after the final with the aim of providing tools and insights for the growth of researchers in this field, also based on their experience, and to allow for a careful reading and analysis of the presentation used during the competition;
- participate in “Arte Oratoria”, a public speaking training course organized in collaboration with Fondazione Teatro Ragazzi e Giovani di Torino: public speaking is a skill, and the course aims to improve public speaking abilities and outline strategies for effectively managing public speaking through theatrical techniques. The course consists of a series of meetings that will take place in the weeks following the final day.
The announcement and rules for the initiative are available on its official website.
