Nine Dots Prize
Nine Dots Prize supports original thinkers addressing contemporary societal challenges, funding the development of the winning response into a short, openly accessible book to share its ideas widely.
Funder: Centre for Research in the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities
Due Dates: October 9, 2026 (Cycle Six launch) | January 27, 2027, 11:59 a.m. GMT (Application deadline) | October 2027 (60% manuscript and seminar) | January 2, 2028 (Final manuscript)
Funding Amounts: US$100,000 for the winner; £5,000 each for up to three Highly Commended entries
Summary: The Nine Dots Prize rewards original thinking on contemporary societal challenges and supports the winner to develop their response into an openly accessible book.
Key Information: Entries created using generative AI, large language models, or related tools are not accepted.
Description
The Nine Dots Prize promotes creative, innovative thinking about problems facing contemporary society. Awarded by the KDS Foundation, also described as the Kadas Prize Foundation, it is supported by CRASSH at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Press. Its focus is broadly social-scientific, but responses may draw on any discipline or perspective, including cross-disciplinary thinking. The Foundation aims to support research into significant but neglected questions relevant to today’s world.
Entrants respond to a question set by the Prize Board and propose how their ideas could become a short book. The winner receives financial support, editorial assistance and a publishing contract with Cambridge University Press. The resulting book is published in commercial print and digital formats and made freely downloadable through open access. Cycle Six introduces Highly Commended awards to recognise additional outstanding entries.
