[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

March 3, 2026

€50,000 (1st prize) | €30,000 (2nd prize) | €20,000 (3rd prize); total prize pool €100,000

Recognizes outstanding innovations in fusion research with market potential, aiming to boost visibility and entrepreneurship in the sector.

--- ## Description The SOFT Innovation Prize 2026, organized by the European Commission under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, highlights and rewards excellence in innovation within fusion research. The prize is intended to showcase technological advancements developed in magnetic confinement fusion research that possess market potential or have been adopted by industry for further development. Open to a wide range of physics and technology innovations, the contest aims to increase the visibility of dynamic researchers, foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fusion sector, and promote the valorization of fusion research outcomes. Winners are selected based on originality, replicability, technical excellence, and economic impact. --- ## Due Dates - March 3, 2026: Deadline for full application submission (by 17:00 CET, Brussels) --- ## Funding Amount - Total prize pool: €100,000 - 1st Prize: €50,000 - 2nd Prize: €30,000 - 3rd Prize: €20,000 Prizes are awarded as lump sums to the top three ranked applications based on the jury’s evaluation. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be legal entities (natural persons, public or private bodies). - Open to: - Researchers, research teams, or industrial participants eligible for funding under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025. - Researchers or teams working for a national programme in an ITER partner country (EU, China, India, Japan, Korea, United States; Russia excluded). - Researchers or teams from third countries with a bilateral fusion cooperation agreement with Euratom (currently: Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Canada, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, and Ukraine). - Industrial participants in the ITER project. - Applicants must obtain permission from the owner of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) relevant to the innovation and provide supporting documentation. - Exclusions apply for legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine. - Joint applications are permitted but must designate a lead applicant. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted electronically via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/EURATOM-2026-SOFT-PRIZE?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=4&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) before the deadline. - Required documents: - Part A: Administrative information (completed online). - Part B: Technical description (max 20 pages, template provided in the portal). - Annex I: Proof of eligibility (e.g., contracts). - Annex II: IPR declarations. - All applicants must register in the [Participant Register](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/participant-register). - Applications can be submitted in any official EU language (English recommended for efficiency). - Submissions may be changed and resubmitted up to the deadline. --- ## Additional Information - The prize is presented at the Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT) 2026. - Award criteria: - Originality and replicability (6–10 points) - Technical excellence (6–10 points) - Economic impact and exploitation (7–15 points) - Minimum total score: 19/35, with individual thresholds for each criterion. - Winners must promote the prize and acknowledge EU support in communications. - No double funding: activities already awarded an EU prize are not eligible for a second prize. - Ethics, legal, and financial compliance are mandatory. --- ## External Links - [SOFT Innovation Prize 2026 – Topic Page](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/EURATOM-2026-SOFT-PRIZE?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=4&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Rules of Contest (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/euratom/wp-call/2023-2025/roc_euratom-2026-soft-prize_en.pdf) - [EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) - [Euratom Work Programme 2023-2025](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/euratom/wp-call/2023-2025/wp_euratom-2023-2025_en.pdf) - [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | General/Program Queries | [RTD-FUSION@ec.europa.eu](mailto:RTD-FUSION@ec.europa.eu) | | IT/Portal Support | [IT Helpdesk](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) | | Phone | +32 2 299 11 11 |

SOFT Innovation Prize 2026

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