Call for Nominations: 2026 NRF Awards

Nominations for the NRF Awards’ Special Award Categories are now open. The awards celebrate the hard work of individual researchers and benefit the awardees’ institutions by growing their status among their local and international peers.

If you know of an up-and-coming researcher who stands head and shoulders above their peers; a researcher who has made a meaningful contribution to SA’s research environment and/or the development of the next generation of researchers; or an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the development of science in and for South Africa over an extended period of time, then this is your opportunity to nominate these individuals for an NRF Award.

The categories are as follows:

1. Lifetime Achievement Award
2. Public Engagement with Research Award
3. Hamilton Naki Award
4. Research Excellence Award for Next-Generation Researchers
5. Research Excellence Award for Early Career / Emerging Researchers
6. Champion of Research Capacity Development and Transformation Award
7. Science Team Award
8. NRF Societal Impact Award

To be eligible as a nominee, all participants must be registered on the NRF Connect System and have a fully updated CV. Follow the link below to register on the NRF Connect System and/or to update your CV: https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za.  All nominations must be completed on the NRF Connect System and submitted through the research offices of an NRF-recognised research institution by the NRF Approved Designated Authorities.

The Closing Date for submission of Nominations by the Applicants is 15 June 2026. The Closing Date for submission by the Designated Authorities (DAs) is 19 June  2026.

Contact Person for enquiries

For submission and eligibility enquiries, please contact: