New major international prize for engineering
24/01/2012
A new global award for engineering has been launched, which celebrates truly outstanding advances in engineering that have created significant benefit for humanity.The biennial prize, of significant monetary value, will be awarded to an individual or team of up to three people, of any nationality, directly responsible for advancing the application of engineering knowledge.
The prize will recognise and celebrate the best – and also serve to illuminate the sheer excitement of modern engineering. The search for the prize will provide an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate how engineers and engineering are making a real difference across the world.
The prize will be international and aims, in time, for the stature of the Nobel Prizes. It will be awarded biennially, the first being presented in Spring 2013.
The prize is the result of a growing realisation within political, business and engineering circles of the need for a pioneering initiative based in the UK to focus attention on engineering worldwide.
The prize has the strong support of both Government and opposition leaders in the UK, is generously supported by a range of top companies and is warmly welcomed by the whole of the UK engineering community.
The terms of reference state that the prize: “will be awarded to an individual (or not more than three individuals) of any nationality, personally responsible for a ground-breaking advance in engineering that has led to significant international public benefit. The judges will, in particular, seek to recognise achievements which have contributed to the solution of global challenges of our time.”
In looking for the winners, the judging panel will be seeking outstanding engineering advances that have produced tangible and widespread public benefit.
Since mankind first picked up a flint as a tool, engineering has shaped the world and defined the future. Today, from fashion to fusion, engineering is fundamental to every aspect of our existence.
The prize will be a vehicle for exploring the extraordinary diversity, creativity and impact of engineering and will celebrate those individuals around the world whose work inspires, benefits and advances society.
An initial endowment has been established with donations from the following companies: BAE Systems, BG Group, BP, GlaxoSmithKline, Jaguar Land Rover, National Grid, Shell, Siemens, Sony, Tata Consultancy Services and Tata Steel.
Full details of the nomination and judging process will be made available during February 2012 and nominations will be accepted from the end of February 2012 until the end of July 2012.
The prize is international – nominations can be received from across the world. The only limitations are that self-nomination and posthumous nomination will not be permitted.
www.raeng.org.uk/QEprize
