Nominations now open for research communication award

For the fourth year running, the award will go to individuals who have successfully communicated research and thereby contributed to spreading knowledge and influencing public debate or developments in society.

“In a time when knowledge is crucial for addressing major societal challenges, we need researchers and journalists who not only seek the truth but also make it easy to understand and relevant to more people. With these awards, we want to celebrate those that build bridges between research, media, and people,” says Lovisa Hamrin, chair of The Hamrin Foundation.

The Hamrin Foundation has a long-term focus on creating benefits for society and thereby strengthening democracy. By funding interdisciplinary research on media, democracy and the arts, the foundation helps new ideas and perspectives take root – and make a difference.

Three award categories

The 2026 Award for Successful Research Communication will be presented in three categories:

• The largest award, the external prize of SEK 100,000, will go to someone who at a national or international level and with significant impact over time has communicated research outcomes within a broad research field. The prize may be awarded to researchers, or to others who have successfully disseminated research findings.
• A prize of SEK 75,000 is aimed at journalists. It will be awarded to a journalist who, at either a national or international level, has made research accessible to the public by writing or talking about research or explaining complex phenomena in a way that is clear, inspiring and engaging.
• An internal prize of SEK 50,000 will be awarded to a researcher or doctoral student at Örebro University. The recipient should have made significant contributions to communicating either their own research results or a broader research field.

Research communication enables development

“These awards highlight how important it is for Örebro University to contribute knowledge and development in society. Research communication enables development by advancing knowledge among decision-makers and other stakeholders. Recognising these important efforts strengthens the university and our ties to the wider community,” says Marie Brodin, head of communications at Örebro University.

For both the internal and external prizes, great emphasis is placed on whether the communication has reached the intended target groups, such as political decision-makers, businesses, school pupils, students, or the general public.

The award winners will be presented with their prizes at Örebro University’s annual academic celebrations on 6–7 February 2026.