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Northwestern Innovation Institute's New Prize for Human-Machine Collaboration

Evanston, Illinois—The Northwestern Innovation Institute, located within Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, has announced a groundbreaking initiative: the Northwestern Innovation Prize for Human-Machine Partnership (NI Prize). This international award will recognize exceptional advancements resulting from the collaboration between humans and machines, highlighting the transformative potential of such partnerships.

In recent decades, significant scientific milestones—from the detection of gravitational waves to the mapping of the human genome—have been achieved with the aid of advanced technology. The NI Prize acknowledges these collaborative efforts, emphasizing how machines have increasingly expanded human capabilities in scientific exploration and innovation.

"We believe the future is reserved for those who successfully harness human-machine collaboration for meaningful impact," Francesca Cornelli, Dean of the Kellogg School of Management, stated. The NI Prize not only aims to honor current innovators but also to motivate others to explore the possibilities of this collaboration.

The Evolution of Innovation Recognition

In a commentary published in the scientific journal Nature, Professor Dashun Wang, who chairs the Kellogg's technology department and oversees the NI Institute, discussed the evolving recognition of scientific achievements. He emphasized that profound innovations emerge when human creativity is paired with machine precision.

Wang asserted, "This prize serves to honor visionaries who have effectively melded human insight with machine capabilities to tackle pressing societal challenges and yield meaningful benefits."

The NI Prize is designed with an inclusive approach, welcoming applicants from a variety of disciplines. It's open to nominees from various fields—science, medicine, engineering, the arts, and public policy—where innovative human-machine partnerships have catalyzed significant advancements. This prize aims to celebrate influences that change societal paradigms, recognizing collaborative achievements that matter the most.

Criteria for the NI Prize

The award will include a substantial cash prize of $250,000 and will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of experts. Key eligibility criteria include:

• - Affiliation: Candidates may belong to universities, national laboratories, non-profits, industries, or any other relevant institution.
• - Discipline: All fields are eligible for nomination.
• - Global Nomination: The prize is open to candidates from anywhere in the world.
• - Individuals or Teams: Both individual innovators and collaborative teams are eligible to be nominated.

The NI Prize's recognition will focus on humans who have played pivotal roles in fostering these impactful partnerships, underscoring their contributions to scientific progress.

Inspiring Future Innovators

As technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and synthetic biology advance, the synergy between human ingenuity and machine capabilities holds unprecedented promise in addressing global challenges. The NI Prize stands as a testament not only to what has been accomplished but also as a clarion call for the next generation of innovators to dream big and explore the merging of human brainpower and technological prowess for the greater good.

Further details about eligibility and the nomination process can be found at www.niinstitute.org/ni-prize. Nominations are currently open and will remain so until March 15, 2026.

About the Northwestern Innovation Institute

The Northwestern Innovation Institute was founded in 2025, supported by a transformative $25 million contribution from the Future Wanxiang Foundation. Its goal is to study and advance innovation across various sectors utilizing AI and big data analytics to interpret diverse datasets pertaining to inventions, patents, and publications worldwide. By doing so, the Institute seeks to maximize research effectiveness and identify new opportunities for impactful innovations in society.

For media inquiries, contact Mary Naset, Director of Communications at the Kellogg School of Management.