The Region is to award 1 million Euros to significant discoveries in the field of Sustainability     

Applications are open for the International Award "Lombardia è Ricerca”, the one million Euro award offered by the Lombardy Region to promote scientific discoveries with a significant impact on the daily lives of citizens. 

The new deadline for 'nominating' a discovery on the issues concerning 'Environmental Sustainability and the Quality of Life' deemed worthy of winning is 18 June 2021.

The decision was made by the Regional Council, as the ongoing pandemic was threatening to be detrimental to potential winners eligible to be nominated by a broad community of Italian scientists. The deadline had originally been set for 9 March 2021.

Award themes, awards for excellence

The Award was created to promote scientific culture and its results, particularly in the field of Life Science. This is also thanks to the Research Day promoted every year by the Region on 8 November, the anniversary of the death of the great Lombard scientist Umberto Veronesi. The Research Day is dedicated to him and the award ceremony takes place on this date.

In its first three editions, the Award Jury awarded neuroscientist Giacomo Rizzolatti for his discovery of mirror neurons; gene therapy researchers Michele De Luca and Graziella Pellegrini along with surgeon Tobias Hirsh; and molecular biologist Guido Kroemer for his studies on the correlation between calorie restriction and longevity. As provided for by the award regulations, the winners have set up collaborations with research centres in Lombardy.

The selection mechanism 

The 2020 edition was postponed to 2021 and consequently remained focused on Sustainability – a theme of great relevance and topicality, as evidenced by the Green Deal presented by the European Commission. However, the awarding process had to be revised due to the pandemic, starting with the nomination of discoveries. In addition, the traditional award ceremony, which used to be held at La Scala in Milan, has been postponed.

Applications may be submitted now and until 18 June by all scientists on the Top Italian Scientist list (the ranking is updated every year based on results achieved) whose H-index in the areas selected under the regulations is 30 or higher. Self-nomination is not allowed. Scientists can suggest the name of one or more researchers whom they believe to be deserving of the Award. The nominees are then evaluated by a Jury of 15 top scientists.

The whole process is certified and transparency is ensured thanks to block chain technology.