Each year the Krijn Rietveld Graduate Societal Impact Award will be awarded to the best master research at Leiden University’s Faculty of Science. The accompanying prize money consists of € 2,500. The winner may use their cash prize freely.

To be eligible for this award the following criteria must be met:

• The candidate received their master degree from Leiden University’s Faculty of Science no longer than 3 years ago.
• The research is described in a master thesis conducted as part of the study programme the candidate recently graduated from.
• The research relates to the field of life sciences, health science, biotech, or environmental health science; it has the aim of improving human health or wellbeing.
• The research contains a data science component: advanced data analysis, or development/application of artificial intelligence.
• The research has high societal relevance: not just because of the nature of the research field, but because of the efforts of the candidate (this explicitly includes, but is not limited to, economic impact)

The best research by a PhD student or post-doc research that resulted in an article that is accepted for publication in a scientific journal will be awarded with the annual Krijn Rietveld Doctoral Societal Impact Award which is accompanied by a cash prize of € 3,000. The winner may use their cash prize freely.

To be eligible for the Krijn Rietveld Doctoral Societal Impact Award the following criteria must be met:

• The candidate is a current or graduated (up to 3 years prior) PhD student of Leiden University’s Faculty of Science, or a postdoctoral researcher at that faculty who received their PhD degree no longer than 3 years ago.
• The research has resulted in an article that is accepted for publication in a scientific journal. The candidate is the first author.
• The research relates to the field of life sciences, health science, biotech, or environmental health science; it has the aim of improving human health or wellbeing.
• The research contains a data science component: advanced data analysis, or development/application of artificial intelligence.
• The research has high societal relevance: not just because of the nature of the research field, but because of the efforts of the candidate (this explicitly includes, but is not limited to, economic impact).

In 2025 and 2027 the most promising entrepreneurial project by early-career researchers will awarded with the Krijn Rietveld Business Development Grant. This grant consists of € 13,500 to be spent on the valorisation of research results. The winners will also get non-financial support from dsm-firmenich and Luris in their endeavours.

The call for nomination for 2025 will be opened in February 2025 at the earliest.