The Kavli Prize

The main street of Oslo, Karl Johan avenue, is decorated with The Kavli Prize banners. They are white with the blue circle, yellow hectagon, and the red triangle. The street is busy. The palace is seen at the end.
Karl Johan avenue decorated with Kavli Prize banners. Photo: Ola Gamst Sæther

Science prizes for the future:

Every second year the Kavli Prize is awarded to outstanding scientists for their seminal advances in nanoscience, astrophysics, and neuroscience – the smallest, the biggest, and the most complex.

The Kavli Prize was awarded for the first time in 2008 as a partnership between:

  • The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
  • The Kavli Foundation (US)
  • The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research

The laureates receive a gold medal, a diploma, and USD 1,000,000 in each of the scientific fields.

Selection of the Kavli Laureates

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters appoints the three prize committees after receiving recommendations from international academies and equivalent scientific organizations. The prize committees review the nominated candidates and submit their recommendations to the board of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

The President of the Academy announces the prize winners.

The laureates receive their prizes from H.M. King Harald V, or from another member of the Norwegian Royal Family, at an award ceremony in Oslo.

Conny, wearing a white dress in a silver gradient, smiles as she greets H. M The King of Norway. His Majesty wears dark suit and looks engaged.
H.M King Harald of Norway presents Conny Aerts, laureate in astrophysics of 2022, with the Kavli Prize on stage. It is customary that the royal family presides over the award ceremony. Photo: Thomas Eckhoff.

Our partners

The Kavli Foundation:

The Norwegian-born philanthropist Fred Kavli brought his curiosity about the smallest, biggest, and most complex scientific mysteries with him to the US and established The Kavli Foundation. Fred Kavli was a driving force behind the establishment of the Kavli Prize in 2005. Responsible for the Kavli Prize cash award, The Kavli Foundation remains an important partner.

Fred Kavli at the award ceremony in Oslo Concert Hall. (Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen/Scanpix)
Fred Kavli established the Kavli Prize.

The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research:

The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research hosts the Kavli Prize Banquet in honor of the Kavli Prize Laureates on behalf of the Norwegian government. The Ministry is also involved in the development of the Kavli Prize together with the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and The Kavli Foundation.

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