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The University's Science and Innovation Award
Deadline for the 2024 awards has passed

The UI Science and Innovation Award is a competition for innovative ideas that may contribute to society or industry regardless of whether the idea has a financial benefit. The competition is open to all students and staff at the University of Iceland. The award has been in place since 1998.

Evaluation of ideas
The selection committee looks to novelty and originality in their evaluation, as well as implementation and benefit to society; especially based on the UN's Development goals, and whether the project is in line with the University's policies and supports its activities. 

Prizes will be awarded for the best idea in four categories:

  • Health and well-being
    The project involves a new product, service, process, method, improved procedures or other things that would have a positive impact on people's health and well-being. Cash prize of 1.5 m krona.
     
  • Technology and progress 
    The project includes a new and exciting technology solution that would involve technical advances if realised. Cash prize of 1.5 m krona.
     
  • Society  
    The project involves a new product, service, method, process, method, improved procedures, or something that has a positive impact on the community if realised. Cash prize of 1.5 m krona.
     
  • Motivation 
    The project is promising. The cash prize would significantly affect the applicant’s ability to allow the project to progress rapidly. Cash prize of 500 thousand krona.
     

The overall winner in the competition, from one of the above-mentioned categories, receives an additional cash prize of 1 m krona.

 More information

Entries must be submitted online, link to the application form is on top of page. Entrants may also submit short supporting documents, videos, images or other files to help explain their idea ,additional documents can be sent to inno@hi.is. The entry, including supporting documents, must not be longer than 5 printed pages. The entry may be in Icelandic or English.

For further information, please contact Brynja Björg Halldórsdóttir, Head of Department of Innovation and Intellectual Property at the Division of Science and Innovation: brynjabh@hi.is.

The University's Science and Innovation Award is a collaboration of

University of Iceland Science and Innovation Prizes

1. Purpose
1.1. The University of Iceland Science and Innovation Prizes are a competition for innovative ideas that have the potential to create social or economic benefit, regardless of whether the idea is designed to be profitable. Prizes are awarded for the best ideas in the advertised categories. Ideas must be based on the work or research of students or staff at the University of Iceland. The selection committee will give particular consideration to novelty and originality, implementation, societal impact (e.g. in terms of the UN Sustainable Development Goals), and whether the project is consistent with the University's strategy and supports its mission.  

2. Administration 
2.1. The UI Division of Science and Innovation shall oversee administration of the competition. 
2.2. The Division of Science and Innovation will publicise the competition and advertise the deadline to enter. Entries received after the specified deadline will not be valid. Advertisements must include information on the prize categories. 

3. Participation
3.1. The competition is open to students and staff at the University of Iceland. It does not matter whether staff are full time or part time.
3.2. If two or more parties submit a joint entry, a student or staff member at the University of Iceland must be primarily responsible for the conception of the project/idea. The Division of Science and Innovation may request further explanation of the estimated contribution of each party.  

4. Entry
4.1. The entry must include information on the main entrant and other participants in the project. Parties specified in the entry are required to have worked on the project/idea themselves. The entry must include a detailed description of the project.
4.2. The entry shall be submitted to the Division of Science and Innovation, in accordance with the advertisement for the competition. The entry may be in Icelandic or English.
4.3. An identical entry for a certain project/idea that did not win in a previous competition may be resubmitted, on the condition that the project/idea has subsequently been developed further. A project cannot receive a prize more than once. 

5. Prizes 
5.1. Monetary prizes are awarded for the most promising projects in the specified categories. The rector, in consultation with the Division of Science and Innovation, shall determine the prize categories.

6. Selection committee
6.1. The rector shall appoint a selection committee for the competition, determine the number of members and appoint one member to act as chair. Members of the selection committee are bound to confidentiality with regard to the content of entries and supporting documents. 
6.2. The selection committee shall determine which projects/ideas will receive prizes. The committee’s decisions are final and may not be appealed to another authority. 

These rules of procedure were established by the rector, 19 February 2020.
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