UNESCO has opened nominations for the third cycle of the prestigious UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in STEM. Five outstanding early-career researchers under the age of 40 will each receive a $50,000 cash grant, an official gold medal, and a UNESCO diploma. Valid applications require an official institutional nomination from an authorized state or academic body.
Key Facts: Awards, Eligibility, and Schedule
| Organizer | UNESCO in partnership with the Al Fozan Foundation |
| Prize Amount | $50,000 each for 5 laureates (one per global UNESCO region), gold medal, and diploma |
| Target Fields | Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) |
| Age Threshold | Under 40 years of age at the time of nomination deadline |
| Eligible Nominees | Early-career researchers with proven international scientific publications, patents, or societal technological impact |
| Nomination Deadline | April 15, 2027 (Online portal registration) |
| Nomination Requirement | Individual self-nominations are strictly invalid; nominations must be submitted by National Commissions for UNESCO, accredited universities, or academies of science |
| Official Languages | English and French |
Who Can Be Nominated from Kazakhstan
The prize celebrates exceptional young scientists whose research fosters socioeconomic progress, sustainable development, and scientific literacy. Candidates must meet the following parameters:
- Active scientific work in basic sciences, engineering, digital technologies, or applied mathematics;
- Age under 40 years as of the nomination deadline;
- Track record of high-impact peer-reviewed publications, patent portfolios, or scalable technological deployments;
- Demonstrated commitment to STEM education, science popularization, or youth mentoring.
Nomination Mechanism: Why Self-Nominations Fail
A crucial procedural rule of the UNESCO-Al Fozan Prize is that self-nominations are strictly rejected. Candidates must be formally nominated by an accredited nominating authority:
- The National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO;
- The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
- Accredited research universities and institutes (e.g., Nazarbayev University, KazNU, Satbayev University);
- International non-governmental organizations maintaining formal consultative status with UNESCO.
Required Nomination Dossier
The nominating institution must submit a complete dossier via UNESCO’s dedicated online portal in English or French:
- Official nomination letter on institutional letterhead detailing the candidate’s scientific achievements and societal impact;
- Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the nominee;
- Summary of major scientific discoveries, publications, citations, and patents;
- Description of how the candidate’s work directly advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Selection and Global Recognition
Submissions are evaluated by an international jury of five eminent scientists appointed by UNESCO’s Director-General. One laureate is chosen from each of the five UNESCO geographical regions: Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific (including Central Asia), Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
For Kazakhstani researchers, the prize provides not only a $50,000 non-taxable research grant, but also world-class visibility across the global scientific community.
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In the RAEM Grants Directory: UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize in STEM — nomination procedures, eligibility guidelines, jury criteria, and official submission links.
