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NIMS Award to a world-class researcher who did innovative research and accomplished excellent results in Materials Science

About NIMS Award


NIMS Award Logo images "Wish the birth of new science and technology"

Since 2007, NIMS has been presenting the NIMS Award (NIMS Award for Recent Breakthrough in Materials Science and Technology) to individuals or groups who have made groundbreaking advancements in the field of materials science and technology. Each year, candidates are nominated by leading scientists from around the world in the relevant field, and the selection is conducted by a committee composed of impartial experts.
The NIMS Award is an international award established by NIMS to honor outstanding scientists worldwide who have made significant contributions to materials research.

The award ceremony and commemorative lecture were held at the international academic conference "NIMS Conference" from the establishment of the award in 2007 until 2015. Subsequently, from the launch of the renewed NIMS in October 2016 until 2022, the event was conducted during the academic symposium held as part of "NIMS WEEK."
Starting in 2023, it has been newly organized as the "NIMS Award Symposium," the largest event hosted by NIMS to honor the award recipients.

NIMS Award Medal



The NIMS Award medal is made of ethical gold, recycled gold from urban mines, which was also used for the medals at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The materials' recycle process was conceived by NIMS scientists.

> About the research regarding this topic:

Honoring Fields

  • Materials for Environment and Energy
  • Functional Materials
  • Structural Materials
  • Basic Materials Science

These four research fields are especially important Materials Science fields that NIMS focuses on. NIMS Award winners are selected from each research field in turn every year.

Criteria of Selection

NIMS Award shall be given to a person who represents innovative research and accomplishes excellent results in Materials Science based on the concept "The true value of materials is in their use"

Qualification Requirement

The NIMS Award recipient must be available to participate in the ceremony and to give a winning-lecture at NIMS Award Symposium.

Selection Process

  • NIMS Nomination Working Group (N-WG) and experts outside NIMS nominate and make a list of candidates.
  • N-WG narrows down the candidates based on their achievements.
  • NIMS Award Committee ranks the candidates and confirm whether they meet the requirements for the award.
  • NIMS President makes a final decision.

Announcement and Ceremony

The announcement of the winners will be on NIMS official website.