Frontiers Planet Prize Application Terms and Conditions

The Frontiers Planet Prize, organized by the Frontiers Research Foundation, is a global competition designed to promote major advancements in sustainability science. Candidates are nominated by leading universities, national academies, and funding agencies according to the following process:  

  1. Scientists interested in the prize apply through their affiliated institutions, serving as National Nominating Bodies (or “NNB”);

  2. NNBs appoint a “Lead Scientist” for each promising research project to represent the team and, if successful, manage the prize money for further research; 

  3. Each NNB will present the top three applications to their country’s national academy of science, which act as National Representative Body (or “NRB”); 

  4. Each NRB shortlists three nominations for the relevant country; and 

  5. A two-round voting process by the Frontiers Planet Prize Jury of 100 awards the National Champion title to each country’s winner and eventually selects three International Champions from the pool of National Champions, each International Champion receiving a CHF 1’000’000 (one million Swiss Francs) prize for their breakthrough research. 

Please refer to the Frontiers Planet Prize website for more information on the prize mechanics and on the applicable timeline, procedure and criteria.  

1. Application Terms and Conditions

Application and selection process

These Application Terms and Conditions (“T&Cs”) govern all stages of participation in the Frontiers Planet Prize.

In these T&Cs, the term “Group” refers to the “Lead Scientist” appointed by their respective NNB who submits the application to the Frontiers Planet Prize and to all the other authors of the relevant research article submitted in support of this application. By applying for the Frontiers Planet Prize, the Lead Scientist represents all Group members and signifies their acceptance of these T&Cs, which form a contract between Group members and the Frontiers Research Foundation.

In each Group, the Lead Scientist appointed by their respective NNBs serves as main point of contact and spokesperson for the Group and is responsible to: 

  1. inform all Group members about these T&Cs, the prize mechanics timeline, procedure and criteria and any other related documentation communicated by the Frontiers Research Foundation and which governs the Frontiers Planet Prize (the “FPP Additional Documentation”); 

  2. obtain all Group members’ explicit consent to the submission of an application to the FPP, the representative’s authority to act on behalf of the Group, these T&Cs and the FPP Additional Documentation; 

  3. promptly inform the Frontiers Research Foundation in writing of any changes concerning the Group, its members, or the Lead Scientist’s representative role (the representative will indicate the name of another senior member of the Group who agrees to act as the new Group’s representative); and 

  4. immediately inform the Frontiers Research Foundation, the relevant NNB and NRB, if at any time the Group or a Group member becomes ineligible, or in case of any other circumstances that may affect the Group’s eligibility or capacity to take part in the Frontiers Planet Prize. 

2. Lead Scientist’s role as Group representative 

By submitting an application on behalf of the Group, the Lead Scientist confirms that: 

  1. each Group member has been informed about these T&Cs and has explicitly consented to them, including with regards to the prize’s mechanics, timeline, procedure and criteria; 

  2. to the best of the Lead Scientist’s knowledge, the information provided in support of the application is true, complete, and an accurate representation of the Group; 

  3. the submission of the article on behalf of the Group for the Frontiers Planet Prize does not violate the rights of any third parties, in particular all contributors to the submitted article have been adequately acknowledged and any other individual/institution whose authorization is required for this purpose has given their express permission to the Lead Scientist; 

  4. the Lead Scientist, and to the best of the Lead Scientist’s knowledge, any member of your Group has not been found responsible for any breach of research integrity or for other academic misconduct or otherwise nor have they been disallowed from obtaining funds from any research or research-sponsoring organization. 


    The Lead Scientist also confirms that each Group member understands and agrees that: 

    1. the Group’s participation in the Planet Prize is dependent on every Group member adhering to these T&Cs and the FPP Additional Documentation and that failure to do so might result in the Group’s disqualification from the Frontiers Planet Prize; 

    2. all information about the National Champion selection communicated prior to the date of the public announcement decided by the Frontiers Research Foundation is strictly confidential and must not be shared with any third parties; 

    3. in case the Lead Scientist is selected as International Champion, the award of CHF 1’000’0000 prize will be paid to the relevant NNB, as the Affiliated Institution of the Lead Scientist and that its payment will be contingent upon such NNB entering into an agreement with the Frontiers Research Foundation whereby the NNB will i) commit to use such funds solely to further develop the Group’s field of research and/or the implementation of the results of the Group’s research (as specified to the NNB by the Frontiers Research Foundation), ii) where senior members of the Group are affiliated with other institutions, cooperate and work collegially with these researchers in using the awarded funds and iii) comply with other terms and conditions decided by the Frontiers Research Foundation to ensure that all appropriate ethical, governance and compliance requirements are fulfilled;  

    4. Group members authorise the Frontiers Research Foundation to use (and to authorize others to use) any materials provided in support of the Group’s application (e.g. any biography, picture, images and quotes any provided photographs/infographics/images, quotes) for the information to the public about the Frontiers Planet Prize, the promotion of the Frontiers Planet Prize and Frontiers Research Foundation’s activities, which includes in particular the right for the Frontiers Research Foundation to reproduce any such materials on its website, social media channels, newsletters and other support, worldwide and without any limitation of time and without any compensation due to any Group member;  

    5. all decisions regarding an application (such as decisions on acceptance, eligibility, disqualification, nominee selection and election of National Champions and International Champions) made by the NNBs, NRBs, the Jury of 100 and/or the Frontiers Research Foundation are final and not subject to any appeal or challenge and, to the extent admissible under law, Group members expressly waive any claim or action against the abovementioned persons and entities in connection with their application to the Frontiers Planet Prize. 

3. Acknowledgements and commitments

Participation in the Frontiers Planet Prize requires Lead Scientists to provide information about themselves and all members of their Group, including personal data. The Frontiers Research Foundation will process this personal data, as data controller, in accordance with Swiss Federal Data Protection act legal requirements and the information provided in the Privacy Notice. 

4. Data protection

The Frontiers Research Foundation may update these Terms and Conditions and the Additional Documentation from time to time, if deemed necessary for the successful organisation of the Frontiers Planet Prize. Any material amendments will be communicated by email to applicants. 

5. Amendment

These T&Cs and the Additional FPP Documentation shall be governed by Swiss substantive law, without reference to its conflict of laws provisions. Any disputes arising from their interpretation or application and more generally from your Group’s participation in the Planet Prize shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the ordinary courts of Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Last updated : 1st of February 2024 

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6.Governing law and jurisdiction