Milner Award and Lecture

This award is made for outstanding achievement in computer science by a European researcher

  • Opening date

  • Closing date

  • Winners announcement

    Date subject to confirmation

The award

The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture, supported by Microsoft Research in order to help sustain a thriving research community in Europe, is the premier European award for outstanding achievement in computer science. It is awarded to recognise an outstanding European computer scientist, someone who has made a substantial contribution and who is likely to go on to further top-level achievement. The recipient is a European researcher or researcher who has been resident in Europe for 12 months or more, and is chosen by the Council of the Royal Society on the recommendation of the Milner Award Committee. The Committee is made up of Fellows of the Royal Society, Members of the Académie des sciences (France) and Members of Leopoldina (Germany). The award is named in honour of Professor Robin Milner FRS (1934-2010), a pioneer in computer science. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £5,000. 

Eligibility

The Royal Society Milner award is open to European citizens or those who have been residents for at least 12 months. There are no restrictions on career stage and nominations will remain valid and shall be considered by the award selection committee throughout three nomination cycles. Nominees cannot be employed by Microsoft and its affiliates (full- or part-time), including anybody who had had a formal contract or remunerative relationship with the company in the 12 months prior to nomination. 

Nominations are closed

Nominations will reopen in November 2024.

2024 winner

  • Professor Artur Ekert FRS

    Professor Artur Ekert FRS

    The Milner Award and Lecture 2024 is awarded to Professor Artur Ekert FRS for his pioneering contributions to quantum communication and computation, which transformed the field of quantum information science from a niche academic activity into a vibrant interdisciplinary field of industrial relevance. Professor Ekert will be given the award at the Prize Lecture which will be organised for late 2024.
  • Past winners

    • Artur Ekert
      Awarded in 2024

      Professor Artur Ekert FRS

      For his pioneering contributions to quantum communication and computation, which transformed the field of quantum information science from a niche academic activity into a vibrant interdisciplinary field of industrial relevance.
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      Awarded in 2023

      Professor Stéphane Mallat

      For his key advances in the fundamental principles of wavelets, including theory for audio, image and video processing, his entrepreneurship, and for contributing significantly to advancing the understanding of deep neural networks.
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      Awarded in 2022

      Professor Yvonne Rogers

      For contributions to Human-Computer Interaction and the design of human-centred technology.
    • Zoubin Ghahramani
      Awarded in 2021

      Zoubin Ghahramani

      For his fundamental contributions to probabilistic machine learning