Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has opened nominations for the 2026 Farnesina Awards for Science and Innovation, a set of three prizes designed to recognize Italian research excellence and scientific collaboration abroad. Applications are due by September 22, 2026.
The first prize, the Italian Bilateral Scientific Cooperation Award, honors an Italian scientist aged 35 or younger who is currently active in New Zealand and has made a significant contribution to the development of bilateral scientific cooperation in any field of science and technology. The award is administered through the Italian Embassy in Wellington, which is handling promotion of the program locally.
A second prize, titled «Science, she says!», is aimed at young women scientists aged 40 or younger. It recognizes their contributions to advancing bilateral scientific cooperation across any area of science and technology. The category reflects a broader push within Italian scientific diplomacy to raise the visibility of women researchers working internationally.
The third award, «L'innovazione che parla Italiano» — Italian-speaking innovation — targets Italian innovators who have founded one or more startups abroad. It extends the program's scope beyond academic research to include entrepreneurial activity and technology transfer.
Together, the three prizes cover a range of career stages and professional paths, from early-career researchers to founders building companies outside Italy. The ministry said the awards are intended to highlight the excellence of Italian research around the world and to strengthen scientific ties between Italy and other countries.
Applicants must submit their nominations by the September 22, 2026 deadline. Application forms and further details are available in the attachments section of the Italian Embassy in Wellington's announcement. Questions can be directed to the embassy by email at wellington.promozione@.
The Farnesina Awards take their name from the historic Roman palace that houses Italy's foreign ministry, and they form part of a wider effort by Italian diplomatic missions to maintain connections with researchers and entrepreneurs who have moved abroad. Embassies and consulates frequently serve as the first point of contact for such programs, coordinating outreach in their host countries and connecting candidates with ministry officials in Rome.
For researchers based in New Zealand, the bilateral cooperation prize offers a specific route to recognition, but its eligibility criteria are narrow: candidates must be Italian, must be 35 or under, and must have demonstrated a meaningful contribution to scientific cooperation between Italy and New Zealand. The women's prize applies more broadly to young female scientists aged 40 or under, without a geographic restriction tied to New Zealand, while the innovation award is open to Italian founders of startups established abroad.
The deadline leaves applicants roughly a month from the announcement to prepare documentation, which in past cycles has included nomination forms and supporting materials describing the candidate's research or venture. Prospective applicants are advised to review the attachment section carefully and to contact the embassy directly with any questions about eligibility or the submission process.