Selection process
After the nomination or application deadline, the awards jury, made up of an international group of eminent experts, will begins the selection process.
The jury reserves the right to invite external reviewers in individual cases. Jury members sit in a personal capacity. The jury will select a shortlist on the basis of the criteria listed below.
→ view flowchart of the selection process
The Einstein Foundation's Executive Board and, in the case of the Early Career Award the BIH Directorate approve the shortlist based on publicly available background information, ensuring that the candidates meet the guidelines for research ethics, and that potential awardees will foster the reputation of the Einstein Foundation, the BIH and the award, and its ability to credibly promote and represent the science community.
For the early career award, projects will be competitively selected for funding and internationally showcased. The laureates will be invited to attend the award ceremony to give a presentation on their achievements and receive their award. Prizes will be awarded for specific achievements or innovative ideas. The decision will be final and not open to appeal. Re-nominations and re-applications are welcome.
The following criteria may serve as a basis for the jury’s decision
Selection Criteria for the Individual & Institutional Award
- Impact – Has the candidate demonstrably strengthened the quality, credibility, and openness of research or scholarly practice in their field or across disciplines, with sustained and field-relevant impact?
- Innovation – Has the candidate introduced novel models, policies, tools, or initiatives that meaningfully enhance how research is conducted, shared, or evaluated?
- Implementation – Has the candidate successfully implemented transformative solutions—such as governance models, incentive systems, or collaborative structures—that improve the conditions for robust and responsible research?
- Integrity & Leadership – Has the candidate demonstrated principled leadership and a strong ethical stance, especially in complex or challenging situations, serving as a role model for others?
- Inclusivity and Participation – Has the candidate actively broadened participation in research or knowledge production by engaging diverse disciplines, epistemologies, communities, and stakeholder groups — and strengthened the relevance and robustness of research as a result?
- Originality – Does the contribution represent a genuinely new and impactful approach to enhancing the processes and conditions of knowledge generation?
Selection Criteria for the Early Career Award
- Innovation – Does the proposed project offer a novel and forward-looking approach to strengthening the integrity, quality, transparency, or value of research or scholarly practice?
- Relevance and Impact – Will the project contribute to promoting openness, responsible practices, and collaborative knowledge-building, with the ultimate aim of enabling sustainable and meaningful solutions to the pressing challenges of our time.
- Originality – Is the proposed project genuinely novel? Has the applicant considered existing or alternative approaches, or distinguished their approach from existing practices (if applicable)?
- Feasibility – Does the applicant or team have the required skills and resources, and can the proposed project realistically achieve its defined milestones with the available resources?