Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2027 Nominations Open | £500,000 Global Engineering Prize

Nominations are now officially open for the 2027 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize), one of the world’s most prestigious international engineering awards. The annual £500,000 prize recognizes engineers responsible for bold, groundbreaking innovations that have delivered global benefit to humanity.

Established in the United Kingdom, the QEPrize celebrates engineering visionaries whose innovations have transformed industries, improved lives, and addressed major global challenges through engineering excellence.

About the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering was launched in 2013 to elevate global awareness of engineering and celebrate engineers whose work has significantly impacted humanity. The prize is administered by the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation.

The award recognizes engineering innovations across all disciplines and sectors, including:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Healthcare Engineering
• Renewable Energy
• Digital Technologies
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Materials Science
• Sustainability Technologies
• Infrastructure
• Biotechnology and many more.

The QEPrize is often regarded as one of the highest international honors in engineering.

Prize Details

• Award Name: Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) 2027
• Prize Value: £500,000
• Organizer: Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation
• Eligible Nominees: Living engineers or teams of up to 10 individuals
• Eligibility: Open internationally
• Nomination Deadline: 26 June 2026
• Referee Submission Deadline: 26 July 2026
• Winner Announcement: 2 February 2027

What the Judges Look For

According to the official criteria, judges evaluate nominations based on:

1. A groundbreaking engineering innovation
2. Demonstrable global benefit to humanity
3. Clear identification of the individuals responsible for the innovation.

The innovation should show significant real-world impact and lasting contribution to society.

Eligibility Criteria

The QEPrize is open to:

• Any nationality
• Individual engineers or teams of up to 10 people
• Living nominees only

However:

• Self-nominations are not allowed
• Posthumous nominations are not permitted.

The award particularly seeks innovations that have transformed the world at scale.

Previous QEPrize Winners

Over the years, the QEPrize has honored some of the most influential engineering breakthroughs in history.

Past awarded innovations include:

• The Internet and World Wide Web
• Digital Imaging Sensors
• GPS Technology
• LED Lighting
• Wind Turbine Technology
• PERC Solar Technology
• Modern Machine Learning
• Modern Neural Interfaces.

The 2026 QEPrize was awarded for the development of modern neural interfaces that restore human function. Recipients included pioneers in cochlear implants, brain-computer interfaces, and neuroengineering technologies.

Meanwhile, the 2025 QEPrize recognized leading contributors to modern machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies.

Nomination Process

Nominations must be submitted online through the official QEPrize nominations portal.

Applicants should prepare:

• A detailed case for nomination
• Information about the engineering innovation
• Names of responsible engineers
• Supporting evidence of global impact
• At least three distinguished referees familiar with the innovation.

Referees should be internationally recognized experts who can independently verify the significance and impact of the nominee’s work.

Key Nomination Checklist

Before submitting a nomination, the QEPrize recommends asking:

• Does the innovation have global impact?
• Can the responsible engineers be clearly identified?
• Is there strong supporting evidence?
• Are suitable referees available?

Why the QEPrize Matters

The QEPrize not only celebrates engineering achievement but also aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering.

The foundation emphasizes that engineering is central to solving many of the world’s biggest challenges, including:

• Climate change
• Global healthcare
• Sustainable energy
• Communication systems
• Food security
• Transportation and mobility
• Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The award has become a global platform for recognizing innovations that improve billions of lives worldwide.

International Recognition

The QEPrize is internationally respected within academia, research institutions, and engineering industries. Universities and professional organizations worldwide encourage nominations for the prize.

The judging panel consists of internationally recognized leaders from engineering, science, academia, and industry.