BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards for Researchers in Spain (€400,000 Cash Prize)_ Nomination Deadline: 30 June 2024

The Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Foundation-BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards nomination is open to recognized world-class research and cultural creations. BBVA Foundation is prizing contributions of broad impact for their theoretical significance and originality. The scheme’s name encapsulates research works that successfully widen human beings’ current knowledge scope and the meeting and overlap of disciplines.

Candidates for the awards can be one or more natural persons of any nationality. There is no limitation on the number of candidates. Those who have made convergent or independent contributions to a given advance can apply for this opportunity. The assistance can be due to a formal collaboration with the nominees from one or different teams or parallel working.

The awards applications are also open to cultural or scientific organizations with exceptional contributions to scientific knowledge, artistic creation, or the fight against climate change. Please note that the awards may not be grantable posthumously.

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards are international awards that cover eight categories as follows:

• Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
• Biology and Biomedicine
• Climate Change
• Ecology and Conservation Biology
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Economics, Finance, and Management
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Music and Opera

About Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Foundation (BBVA Foundation)

The BBVA Foundation in Spain promotes research, the transmission of knowledge to society, and advanced training. The Foundation focuses on the emerging issues of the 21st century in five areas:

• Environment
• Biomedicine and Health
• Economy and Society
• Basic Sciences and Technology
• Arts and Humanities

The BBVA Foundation also designs, develops, and finances research projects in the mentioned areas; organizes award schemes for professionals and researchers whose work has contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge; facilitates advanced specialist training through grants, courses, seminars, and workshops; and communicates and disseminates such new knowledge through databases, publications, lecture series, debates, exhibitions, and audio-visual and electronic media.

Brief Details of Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

Nomination Deadline: 30 June 2024

Award Decision Announcement: 30 April 2025

Award Ceremony Date: June 2025

Festival Location: Bilbao City, Spain

Organized By: BBVA Foundation

Eligible Countries: All

Awards and Prizes

The Frontiers of Knowledge Awards consist of the following elements:

• 400,000 euros cash prize
• A diploma to the winner
• A commemorative artwork in each of the categories

Notes:

• If an award belongs to more than one team member, its monetary amount will belong to all recipients equally.
• All awards in any category are subject to withholding and other taxes as per law and current legislation. The tariffs are deductible from their total amount.

Eligibility Criteria

Please note these terms and conditions and requirements before applying for BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards:

Candidates:

Candidates for the awards can be one or more natural persons of any nationality. There is no limitation on the number of candidates. Those who have made convergent or independent contributions to a given advance can apply for this opportunity. The assistance can be due to a formal collaboration with the nominees from one or different teams or parallel working.

The awards applications are also open to cultural or scientific organizations with exceptional contributions to scientific knowledge, cultural and artistic creation, or the fight against climate change. Please note that the awards may not be grantable posthumously.

Nominations:

Applicants with self-nomination are not eligible for these awards. Any scientific or cultural institution or organization can submit nominations following their internal procedures. Among them:

• Artistic or scientific organizations and societies
• National and local Academies of Science or Culture
• Public or private Research and Development (R&D) centers
• University departments, schools, or institutes and teaching or research institutes
• Biomedical research centers and hospital departments
• Music Schools
• Orchestras, opera theaters, and orchestra and opera associations
• Public agencies and national or regional organizations substantially involved in analysis or activities relating to climate change
• Other scientific, cultural, and environmental organizations

Who more can nominate?

• Nobel Prize winners in any category are eligible to nominate a candidate.
• The BBVA Foundation also accepts nominations from researchers and cultural creators with outstanding contributions in their relevant fields, establishing advisory or consultative panels.
• The same institution, organization, or individual nominator can nominate more than one candidate without limitation of number. Please remember that no candidate can nominate for multiple awards.

Note: All nominations and supporting documentation should be in English only.

Required Documents

The nominating individual or institution should provide the following information and documentation while nominating a candidate:

• Award category for which they appoint a candidate
• Name of the nominating institution, officer, or body with contact information (postal and email address, landline and cell phone numbers)
• Nomination letter signed by the nominating officer/body
• Candidate particulars, including contact data and institutional affiliation
• Explanation of the outstanding contributions of the candidate and reasonable arguments for the nomination (maximum of three pages, single-spaced)
• Candidate’s curriculum vitae

Selection Process

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards selection procedure is as follows:

Step 1: Evaluation Support Panels

• The BBVA Foundation and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) will assign a support panel to review the nominations received in each category.
• These panels will consist of members from leading experts in the relevant area, CSIC members, universities, hospitals, and other cultural, research, or artistic centers.
• The support panel will provide a reasoned rank order of finalists to the BBVA Foundation. The Foundation will forward the list with a complete list of entries and the scores assigned to each to the corresponding award committee.

Step 2: Committees

• The BBVA Foundation appoints eight committees comprised of experts of acknowledged prestige in the corresponding area. The current CSIC president will designate the chair of each committee from a list of between five to ten researchers or cultural practitioners drawn up by the BBVA Foundation.
• The committee will make the final decisions for each category, and their decision is final. Committee’s findings are not open to appeal, including the decision to leave the award vacant.
• The BBVA Foundation will publicly disclose the composition of the panel and award committee in each category, plus the contents of the award certificate with the committee’s citation on their website.

Award Presentation and Ceremony

The BBVA Foundation Awards decision announcement date will be before 30 April 2025. The Foundation will present the awards in a formal ceremony occurring in June 2025 in the Euskalduna Conference Centre, Bilbao. A gala concert will also happen in the same venue the evening before.

How to Nominate a Candidate?

Qualified nominators can enter the link below to register an account and nominate their interested candidates.

Apply for Nominate Now

Please read detailed information about the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards 2024 on the OFFICIAL LINK.