The Nils Klim Prize

The Nils Klim Prize is awarded annually to a scholar under the age of 40, from or in a Nordic country, for outstanding contributions to research in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology.

About the Nils Klim Prize

The Nils Klim Prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2003 and is awarded annually to a scholar under the age of 40, for outstanding contributions to research in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology, either in one of these academic fields or through interdisciplinary work.

The candidate must be a citizen of a Nordic country or have a main affiliation with a Nordic research institution.

The scholar’s ability to be original and innovative is highly emphasised. The academic committee that considers the nominations will also take into account whether the research contribution is especially outstanding or promising in light of the scholar’s age, the nature of the research project, and traditions in the researcher’s academic field.

The Nils Klim Prize is worth NOK 500,000.

Selection procedure

Scholars holding positions at universities and other research institutions, including academies, are entitled to nominate candidates to the Holberg Prize and the Nils Klim Prize. The deadline for nominations for both prizes is June 15th each year. 

The Prize is awarded by the Holberg Board at the recommendation of the The Nils Klim Committee, which consists of renowned Nordic scholars in the relevant research fields.  Read more about the Nils Klim Committee’s work here.

The Nils Klim Prize Laureate is announced in March each year, and the award ceremony takes place during the annual Holberg Week in Bergen, Norway in June.

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