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The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards for demonstrated achievements in:

• scientific research and research-based innovation
• the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
• 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. Where the prize is awarded to a team, each member will receive a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and an equal portion of the prize money.

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

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia (nominees currently living or studying overseas are not precluded from being nominated)
• 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.

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

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards for achievements in:

• scientific research and research-based innovation
• the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
• 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.

The Knowledge Systems Prize celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led projects that benefit Australian Indigenous peoples, communities or place, and contribute to solving a significant challenge through the practice and preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.

We welcome nominations of diverse candidates and those from a different range of backgrounds and geographical regions.

There are 3 nomination types available for this prize: Individual; Team; and Community Groups.

The prize recipient receives a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and prize money. Where we award the prize to a team, each member will receive a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and an equal portion of the prize money. Where we award the prize to a community group (up to 4 representatives), the group will receive a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and the prize money will be awarded to the community group.

We may recognise highly ranked nominees through the awarding of highly commended certificates.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for a Knowledge Systems Prize, nominees 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 (see glossary in the guidelines)
• 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, we will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue. This will occur at Stage 1
• 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.

Where a nomination is for a team or a community group, up to 4 nominees may be named per nomination. All nominees must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. For nominations of community groups, the selected nominees will be representatives for the whole community group.

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards for demonstrated achievements in:

• scientific research and research-based innovation
• the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
• excellence in science teaching.

The prizes will award up to $1.4 million in total each year for achievements across 3 prize categories:

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

The Science Teaching Prizes recognise Australian science teachers for excellence in science teaching. 

We welcome nominations of diverse candidates and those from a range of backgrounds and geographical regions.

There are 2 science teaching prizes:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools ($250,000)
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools ($250,000).

Each prize recipient receives a medallion, lapel pin, prize money as described above and an award certificate. We may recognise highly ranked nominees through the awarding of highly commended certificates.

Eligibility:

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

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• have undertaken their teaching achievement for which they are nominated in Australia
• not be self-nominated
• not be nominated in more than one prize category. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one category, we will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue. This will occur at Stage 1
• be a full-time or part-time registered teacher at a primary or secondary school listed on the Australian Schools List
• be active in teaching science, technology, engineering or mathematics in the classroom at the time of their nomination. Teachers on parental leave at the time of nomination, who intend to return to teaching, are eligible.

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

The Industry Growth Program has been established to support innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas. Participating businesses will have access to Advisory Services to help them overcome the significant challenges that may be associated with their projects.

Commercialisation and growth projects are intended to include those that can already demonstrate completion of feasibility studies and proof-of-concept. Projects are intended to include the journey of product, process or service development from early prototyping through to actual application in its final form, and the capability to scale up to full rate production and grow into new markets.

Participants in the Advisory Service may apply for Commonwealth grant funding to support specific commercialisation and/or growth projects.

The commercialisation and growth stages may include developing marketplace strategies for entry to market, accelerating growth and scaling up into national and international markets.

The Industry Growth Program has been established to support innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas. Participating businesses will have access to Advisory Services to help them overcome the significant challenges that may be associated with their projects.

Early-stage commercialisation projects are intended to include the journey from feasibility studies and the development of proof-of-concept through to the production and testing of early prototypes in a simulated or theoretical environment. Testing should validate the commercial viability of the innovative product, process or service.

Participants in the Advisory Service may apply for Commonwealth grant funding to support early-stage commercialisation projects.

Early-stage commercialisation is a formative stage in the development where your innovative product, process or service is translated, tested, developed and then refined and demonstrated.

The objective of the Early-Stage Commercialisation grant opportunity is to help businesses to undertake the steps necessary to establish the commercial viability of an innovative product, process or service, including steps to undertake feasibility and proof-of-concept through to prototyping.

The program supports innovative small and medium enterprises undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas through advisory services and opportunities for matched grant funding. Minor changes or improvements to existing products or services are not considered innovative.

You will be connected to an Industry Growth Program Adviser who will provide tailored advice to support your commercialisation and/or growth project.

Once you have received this advice, you may also be able to apply for:

• grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects
• grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.

An innovative product, process or service:

• is new, unique or significantly different to any other previous product, process or service in the market or industry where the product is intended to be sold/traded; or
•  involves significant enhancements or developments of current products, processes or services that will enable the business to scale and transform.

Early-stage commercialisation projects are intended to include the journey from feasibility studies and the development of proof-of-concept through to the production and testing of early prototypes in a simulated or theoretical environment. Testing should validate the commercial viability of the innovative product, process or service. Various scales are typically referenced to demonstrate technology readiness or market readiness, with one example commonly referenced being Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). As a guide, early-stage commercialisation grant projects are intended to broadly include the journey through TRL3 to TRL6.

Commercialisation and growth projects are intended to include those that can already demonstrate completion of feasibility studies and proof-of-concept. Projects are intended to include the journey of product, process or service development from early prototyping through to actual application in its final form, and the capability to scale up to full rate production and grow into new markets. Various scales are typically referenced to demonstrate technology readiness or market readiness, with one example commonly referenced being Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). As a guide, commercialisation and growth grant projects are intended to broadly include the journey through TRL4 to TRL9.