Endeavours Award at FZ Jülich

Celebrating solutions & pioneers

Science is the foundation of everything we do at Forschungszentrum Jülich. But impact does not happen by default. It happens when researchers take responsibility beyond the lab — when results become solutions, technologies, collaborations, or start-ups.

The Endeavours Award celebrates this transformation. It's not about measuring efforts or volume of work. It's about celebrating what research becomes when teams take it further.

The Endeavours Award is for those who refuse to let great science sit on a shelf. We recognize the researchers, teams, and pioneers at Forschungszentrum Jülich who bridge the gap between discovery and application — often beyond formal responsibilities, job descriptions or visible metrics.

We recognise those who

✓ Turn research into usable solutions
✓ Enable use in society and industry
✓ Build spin-offs, long-term partnerships and their foundations
✓ Share technology and move research beyond the lab

Three Categories. One mindset.

Don't worry about the boxes. Focus on the achievement — we’ll handle the classification.

For teams and individuals who have successfully make research usable — through partnerships, licensing, funding or societal impact.

Focus: tangible results and visible transfer.

For those who take research beyond the institute and actively build new ventures, spin-offs or entrepreneurial pathways.

Focus: initiative, responsibility and the courage to become an entrepreneur.

Our highest recognition for long-term, visible contributions in innovation.

This category is curated by the Innovation Division and highlights contributions of extraordinary relevance and impact.

Explore the criteria and prize money
→ See what makes an Endeavour

The Nomination Process

Simple, transparent — and focused on substance.

Whether it's the person in the lab next door or a team across the campus — if someone helped turn research into impact, they deserve recognition. If that someone is you — nominate yourself.

The Innovation Division (I) reviews every submission. We ensure your nomination is placed in the right category to give the best possible chance for success.

The Board of Directors selects the awardees. We inform winners instantly — and give them the spotlight they deserve across FZJ and beyond.

You see what others can't: contributions shaping impact, often unseen outside your institute.

Your nomination gives these contributions visibility — within your institute and across Forschungszentrum Jülich.

» Submit your nomination

Everything you need to know before you nominate

How much time does the nomination take?

Who can I nominate?

Do I need to submit documents or evidence?

Can I nominate more than one person or project?

What’s in it for nominees and winners?

High-level visibility, institutional backing, and the chance to share their story with the right partners to take their work even further.

The Prize: A cash award (€2,500 / €5,000 per person) or a dedicated training budget → Explore the prizes and details
The Spotlight: We'll introduce all nominees online. Winners are featured in Endeavours magazine, and across public channels.
The Impact: Share and inspire other researchers.

Where can I find detailed information?

The Endeavours Award is your chance to recognize great work, share inspiring stories, and give innovators the spotlight they deserve. Who will you nominate?

» Start your nomination