The Nils Foss Prize 2025

November 13, 3:00 PM
University of Copenhagen

Introducing the Nils Foss Prize

The Nils Foss Prize honors excellent innovative research leading to remarkable improvements in sustainability, quality and safety in the food supply chain. Throughout his career, Nils Foss was an enthusiastic exponent of innovation and entrepreneurship within the field of analytical technology and its application to the enhancement of quality and productivity in food, feed and agriculture.


To honor Nils Foss’ lifelong achievements, FOSS will award an Excellence Prize to recognize a globally-respected scientist for world-class innovative research. Additionally, a Talent Prize will be awarded to a young and promising scientist.

Previous Laureates and Talents

The latest winners of the Nils Foss Excellence Prize (€ 100,000), Professor Rudolf Krska, and the Nils Foss Talent Prize (€ 15,000),  Leoni Jahn, will be presenting at the Food Analytics Conference on their relative fields of expertise, which will serve among the themes for the conference.

Read more about all the previous winners of the two prizes below.

Professor

Rudolf Krska

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)

Co-Principal Investigator

Leoni Jahn

Technical University of Denmark

Professor

Anne S. Meyer

Technical University of Denmark

Assistant Professor

Lutz Grossmann

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Professor

Eric Andrew Decker

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Postdoctoral Scientist

Laura Roman Rivas

Aarhus University

Associate Professor

Mahesha Manjunatha Poojary

University of Copenhagen

Professor

David Julian McClements

University of Massachusetts

Associate Professor

Qian Janice Wang

Aarhus University

Professor

Robert David Hall

Wageningen University & Research

PhD

Klavs Martin Sørensen

University of Copenhagen

Professor

Frank M. Aarestrup

Technical University of Denmark

Associate Professor

Kristian Holst Laursen

University of Copenhagen

Professor

Rasmus Bro

University of Copenhagen

Associate Professor

Bekzod Khakimov

University of Copenhagen

The Nils Foss Excellence Prize

The Prize laureate is an active and internationally recognized scientist who has demonstrated excellent innovative research within the application of analytical technology in the food, feed and agricultural area. Focus will be on research leading to significant breakthrough in the application of analytical technologies that promote improvements in sustainability, quality and/or safety in the food production chain.

The prize is € 100,000

The award winner has conducted at least 10 years of excellent research. It is an advantage if the award winner has shown impact and entrepreneurship based on the conducted research.


The Nils Foss Prize committee receives nominations of both university and industrial candidates.

The Nils Foss Talent Prize

The Prize talent is a talented and promising upcoming scientist who has made a significant research or innovation contribution to the application of analytical technology to improve the sustainable use of agricultural resources and/or ensuring food quality and safety.

The prize is € 15,000

The award winner is maximum seven years after completion of master’s degree or four years after PhD degree. It is an advantage if the award winner has shown entrepreneurship based on the conducted research.


The Nils Foss Prize committee receives nominations of both university and industrial candidates.

The story behind the glass sculpture for The Nils Foss Prize Award

The Nils Foss Prize Award is symbolized by a decorative glass sculpture. Each sculpture is uniquely designed and handmade, ensuring that the recipients receive a special and personal honor.

From the beginning, these glass awards have been more than just trophies. They are works of art crafted by the renowned Danish glass artist Torben Jørgensen.

When selected to design the glass sculptures for the prize, Torben Jørgensen knew exactly how to bring his vision to life. The design process was thoughtful and deliberate, with the choice of glass and form being no coincidence. He was certain from the outset that the grain motif from The Nils Foss Prize logo would play a central role in the final design, symbolizing the core values of the prize and its connection to sustainable food production.

In the coming years, Torben Jørgensen’s daughter, Karin Mørch, will take over the creation of the sculptures. Karin is a respected glass artist with over 20 years of experience.

Venue

The Nils Foss Prize award ceremony will take place at the assembly hall in the main building of the University of Copenhagen. You will find the entrance to the award ceremony from Frue Plads.

The address is:
Festsalen, Frue Plads 4, 1165 Copenhagen K.

The ceremony begins at 3:00 PM, doors open at 2:30 PM
Festsalen, Frue Plads 4,
1165 Copenhagen K.

Register for the
Nils Foss Prize Award Ceremony 2025

Register for the
Nils Foss Prize Award Ceremony 2025