The Nils Foss Excellence Prize acknowledging research

Winners 2019

David Julian McClements is awarded the Nils Foss Excellence Prize
David Julian McClements is distinguished professor at the department of food science at University of Massachusetts. Prof. McClements has made innovative contributions to a number of important areas in food science throughout his career, including food design and nanotechnology, to improve the quality, safety, and healthiness of foods.

Qian Janice Wang is awarded the Nils Foss Talent Prize
Qian Janice Wang is assistant professor at the department of food science at Aarhus University. Dr. Wang takes an interdisciplinary approach to innovative multisensory food research, and studies strategies to nudge people towards better food qualities and healthier eating behaviours through sound, smell, taste and vision.

Introducing the Nils Foss Excellence Prize

The Nils Foss Excellence Prize honours excellent innovative research leading to remarkable improvements in sustainability, quality and safety in the food supply chain. Hear member of the prize committee and rector at the University of Copenhagen, Henrik Wegener, explain why having a science prize within the food and agricultural segment is valuable, and what in particular the committee values when selecting a recipient.

Nils Foss, founder

Throughout his career, Nils Foss was an enthusiastic exponent of innovation and entrepreneurship within the field of analytical technology and its application to the enhancement of quality and productivity in food, feed and agriculture.

To honour Nils Foss’ lifelong achievements, FOSS will award an Excellence Prize to recognise a globally-respected scientist for world-class innovative research. Additionally, a Talent Prize will be awarded to a young and promising scientist.

Through the Nils Foss Excellence Prize and Talent Prize, FOSS acknowledges the role of the food, feed and agricultural community in the innovative application of technology towards improved value and sustainability in the food supply chain. With the Prizes, FOSS wants to further stimulate research in the agricultural and food sector.

Meet the previous nominees and winners

The Nils Foss Excellence Prize has been around since 2016, and aims to highlight innovation and entrepreneurship within the food and agricultural research area. Thus, it is awarded to scientists who have demonstrated excellent innovative research, and to upcoming talents who have already shown promising and innovative results within the fields of safe, sustainable agricultural resources.

Read more about the nominees as well as the winners from previous years right here.

THE NILS FOSS EXCELLENCE PRIZE

The award winner is an active and internationally recognized scientist who has demonstrated at least 10 years of excellent innovative research within the food, feed and agricultural area leading to significant:

Breakthrough through innovative application of analytical technologies and/or
Improvements in sustainability, quality and/or safety

It is an advantage if the scientist has shown impact and entrepreneurship based on the conducted research.

Candidates from universities or relevant industries are accepted as nominees.

The prize is EUR 100.000 of which at least 75% must be used for further research. In addition, the winner will receive a work of art.

THE NILS FOSS TALENT PRIZE

The award winner is a talented and promising upcoming scientist who has made a significant research or innovation contribution to the application of technology to improve the sustainable use of agricultural resources and/or ensuring food quality and safety.

The scientist has:

Demonstrated an innovative mind-set and approach
The potential to make ground-breaking research and innovation
Maximum seven years after completion of master’s degree or four years after PhD degree

Candidates from universities or relevant industries are accepted as nominees.

The prize is EUR 15.000 and the use is without any limitations. In addition, the winner will receive a work of art.

THE NILS FOSS PRIZE COMMITTEE

The Prize Committee selects the final nominees and the winner for both prizes. The selection process leads to a unanimous decision which is confirmed by FOSS.

Nomination process 2020

Nomination to the Nils Foss Excellence Prize is by invitation only by the Prize Committee and the Nomination Network, consisting of people from universities and food industry. The Nomination Network is appointed by the Nils Foss Excellence Prize Committee.

Deadline for proposals June 1st, 2020

Nils Foss Excellence Prize Award Ceremony at FOSS in November 2020.

The Committee