Name of Prize
Copernicus Award
Type of Prize
As a rule, the award is jointly conferred every two years to two researchers, one in Germany and one in Poland.
Purpose
The prize is awarded for outstanding contributions to German-Polish research cooperation, in particular for promoting young researchers.
Number and Value of Awards
The prize money of €100,000 is donated in equal shares by the DFG and the Foundation for Polish Science (Fundacja na Rzecz Nauki Polskiej). The award is divided equally among the recipients and is awarded for a maximum of five years. Prizewinners may use the money for any scientific purpose that is within the scope of the funding programmes of both organisations. Funds should be used to further advance research cooperation or the promotion of young researchers.
Use of prize funds by the German partner is subject to the DFG's usage guidelines for project funding. Use of prize funds by the Polish partner is subject to the applicable Polish regulations.
Nominations
The prize is awarded on the basis of nominations. Researchers in Germany and Poland who work at universities or research institutions are eligible to nominate candidates. They will be made aware of the prize by a public call for nominations. In addition, all previous laureates and research institutions that are devoted to German-Polish cooperation are invited to submit nominations.
Selection Criteria
The prize will be awarded to individual researchers or, under certain circumstances, to research teams. Candidates will be evaluated according to scientific excellence and the success associated therewith, which the laureates have achieved in German-Polish cooperation, in particular for the joint promotion of young researchers. Researchers may only receive the Copernicus Award once.
Selection of Prizewinners
Prizewinners will be selected by a jury of six researchers, three of whom will be working in Germany and three in Poland. The jury elects a chair, who is eligible to vote, from among its members. Following each award, the position of the chair will rotate between the Polish and the German representatives.
The German members will be appointed by the DFG and the Polish representatives by the FNP for a three-year term of office. The German members of the jury will be appointed by the DFG's Joint Committee. Members of the jury may be reelected once.
Nomination Deadlines
Deadlines will be announced in the public call for nominations.
Documents Required
Nominations should contain the following documents: Personal details (name, date of birth, current position) of both candidates and appraisal of their achievements (with regard to German-Polish scientific cooperation and joint promotion of early career researchers), written in English, curriculum vitae in tabular form (in English), preferably with photographs, lists of publications and two independent letters of reference in English for each candidate. Additional information on submitting nominations is contained in the call.
