Pioner Awards

The awards recognize those researchers from a CERCA center who have just completed a doctoral thesis with clearly market-oriented results.

12

Calls

231

Participants

59

Awards

59.000

Invested

112

Theses by Women (48,5%)

27

Women awarded (45,8%)

In short...

Candidates

You can submit your candidacy if you are a researcher at a CERCA center and have presented your thesis in the last year (readed between October 11th 2024 and October 14th 2025), with clearly market-oriented results.

PhD holders

PhD Thesis defended in the last year

Amount

1.000,00

Prize

The prize amount will be 1,000 euros in cash for each beneficiary. The PIONER Awards are awarded with the collaboration of several institutions and companies.

Evaluation criteria

The works will be evaluated by a committee of experts made up of specialists in knowledge transfer. The evaluation criteria for pre-selection will be a. Originality (3 points) b. Viability (3 points) c. Expected impact (3 points) d. Estimated time until application (1 point) For the final presentation, the jury will add-up 2 extra points for the presentation quality.

Independet Review

Tech & Knowledge Transfer Jury

Calendar

October-December 2025

Calendar

You can submit your proposal before November 5th 2025

  • Open Call

    14-10-2025

    You can submit proposals

  • Closing Call

    14-11-2025

    Final date to submit proposals

  • Online training session for participants

    17-11-2025

    Exclusive session for participants on how to prepare a technology pitch, professional life after PhD or an extra view on tech transfer, impact and outreach

  • Online one-to-one sessions for participants

    20-27/11/25

    I-CERCA team will be available for one-to-one sessions to help you to use and apply the content of the on-line training session. Specifically, you will have the opportunity to practice the pitch, as well as ask for more information about questions raised on the session, etc.

  • List of finalists

    01/12/25

    The name of the (around) 8 finalists will be announced. The finalists will be invited to make the final pitch in front of a jury. This final pitch will be mandatory for finalists. There will be the option to make the final presentation live via stream

  • Final Event

    18/12/25

    The final presentation and award ceremony will take place at the DREU premises, Sala -1, Via Laietana 2, 08003 Barcelona, from 10:00 to 14:00, on a date within the week of December 15th to 19th.The event will be hybrid, so there will be the option to present remotely. Each finalist will have a slot of 5 minutes (sharp) for presentation plus 2-3 minutes for Q&A from a 5-members jury.

Documents (2025)

Funders (2025)

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