Nature Awards AI for Discovery
Nature Awards AI for Discovery recognizes AI-powered research that accelerates solutions to challenges across three categories in health, sustainability and manufacturing.
Key dates
- Launch date: 25th February 2026
- Application deadline: 27th May 2026
- Application assessment: May to August 2026
- Successful applicants notified: September 2026
- Winners announced: 3rd– 6th November 2026
Prizes
Four successful applicants will each receive:
- A US$10,000 development grant to drive the next phase of their research.
- An all-expenses-paid invitation to a gala event and symposium in London, UK in November 2026. Winners will present their work to a global audience of scientists, policymakers and industry leaders, and benefit from international exposure through Nature and BCG X channels.
- Access to bespoke virtual training delivered by BCG X AI Science Institute consultants, providing guidance on topics including model development, scaling and paths to commercialization.
Of the four successful applicants, one overall winner will receive in addition:
Eight hours of tailored, one-to-one coaching delivered by BCG X AI Science Institute consultants, helping to bridge the gap between discovery and deployment.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the online application form.
Entries must be complete and submitted by 11:59 pm UTC 00:00 on the 27th May 2026 to be eligible. Terms and conditions are available here.
Eligibility criteria
The award programme will consider applied scientific research powered by AI or machine intelligence in one of these three categories:
- Health & life sciences
- Energy, environment & agriculture
- Industry, infrastructure & manufacturing
The research must have a strong scientific foundation supported by positive data. The most recent results must be published in a peer-reviewed journal within the past five years.
The research must either demonstrate measurable real-world impact or include a well-defined pathway-to-impact plan outlining how the work will translate into practical solutions.
Eligible applicants:
- Research groups based at universities, research institutes, hospitals, government or not-for-profit organizations.
- Research groups from any country, with the exception of sanctioned countries.
- Applications must be submitted by a core member of the research group, who acts as the lead applicant.
Evaluation criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Nature editors and subject matter experts with a range of backgrounds. The panel will assess applications based on four equally weighted criteria:
- The science: Originality and quality of science, evidence of efficacy
- The role of AI: Integration of AI into methods, responsible use of AI
- The impact: Scale and importance of problem, evidence of impact, pathway-to-impact plan
- The future: What will this intervention look like a decade from now? How will you get from A to B? How would winning the prize accelerate development?
More detailed information about eligibility and evaluation criteria can be found in the FAQ section.
source: https://www.nature.com/immersive/aifordiscovery/for-applicants/index.html
Nature Awards AI for Discovery
Nature Awards AI for Discovery recognizes AI-powered research that accelerates solutions to challenges across three categories in health, sustainability and manufacturing.
Key dates
Prizes
Four successful applicants will each receive:
Of the four successful applicants, one overall winner will receive in addition:
Eight hours of tailored, one-to-one coaching delivered by BCG X AI Science Institute consultants, helping to bridge the gap between discovery and deployment.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the online application form.
Entries must be complete and submitted by 11:59 pm UTC 00:00 on the 27th May 2026 to be eligible. Terms and conditions are available here.
Eligibility criteria
The award programme will consider applied scientific research powered by AI or machine intelligence in one of these three categories:
The research must have a strong scientific foundation supported by positive data. The most recent results must be published in a peer-reviewed journal within the past five years.
The research must either demonstrate measurable real-world impact or include a well-defined pathway-to-impact plan outlining how the work will translate into practical solutions.
Eligible applicants:
Evaluation criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Nature editors and subject matter experts with a range of backgrounds. The panel will assess applications based on four equally weighted criteria:
More detailed information about eligibility and evaluation criteria can be found in the FAQ section.
source: https://www.nature.com/immersive/aifordiscovery/for-applicants/index.html