🏆 The European Commission has officially launched the SOFT Innovation Prize 2026!
This prestigious EURATOM prize recognises excellence in innovation in fusion research, with a strong emphasis on market potential and cross-sectoral impact.
🔗 Access the official call here
🎯 About the Prize
Fusion research continually pushes the boundaries of science and engineering, creating a fertile ground for innovation across disciplines — from physics and thermal technologies to materials, data science, and beyond. Much of this innovation also benefits wider scientific and industrial communities.
The SOFT Innovation Prize aims to highlight:
- Groundbreaking technologies and processes in magnetic confinement fusion;
- Real-world applications and industrial uptake of fusion-based innovations;
- The quality and creativity of the researchers and industries behind them.
This 2026 edition follows the successful 2022 and 2024 contests and will be awarded during the Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT) 2026.
There are no specific categories — contestants may submit innovations from any area of physics or technology developed through magnetic confinement fusion research that show market potential or industrial application.
🧪 Prize Details
💶 Prize Amounts:
- 🥇 1st Prize: €50,000
- 🥈 2nd Prize: €30,000
- 🥉 3rd Prize: €20,000
📄 Applications should include:
- A technical description of the innovation
- A state-of-the-art assessment
- A general outline of the market potential and exploitation plans
📚 Model Rules of Contest and full eligibility requirements are available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal
✅ Award Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated by independent experts based on the following cumulative criteria:
- Originality and Replicability
First-of-a-kind innovation, clearly explained and logically presented. - Technical Excellence
Demonstrates cutting-edge science and engineering. - Economic Impact and Exploitation
Shows market awareness, commercial potential, and a path to deployment.
👩🔬 Eligibility
The contest is open to:
- Researchers, research teams, or industrial participants eligible under the Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021–2025)
- Participants from ITER partner countries or countries with bilateral fusion cooperation agreements with Euratom
- Industrial participants involved in ITER
📢 Applicants must also obtain permission from the IPR owner for the submitted innovation and provide relevant supporting documents.
The European Commission encourages equal opportunities and strongly welcomes applications from women to promote gender balance in the nuclear field.
📅 Key Dates
- Call opening: 3 June 2025
- Deadline for submissions: 3 March 2026 – 17:00 CET
- Evaluation period: March–June 2026
- Award ceremony: September–October 2026 at SOFT 2026
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