The Neuro–Irv and Helga Cooper Foundation Open Science Prizes
Since 2021, the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), has been running The Neuro–Irv and Helga Cooper Foundation Open Science Prizes. The prizes recognize projects, services, tools and platforms that use open practices in neuroscience to advance discovery and innovation for the benefit of health and society. Eligible recipients include individuals or groups in research organizations worldwide.
Funded by a donation from the Irv and Helga Cooper Foundation, this competition is organized by TOSI, which oversees all aspects from promotion to adjudication, including the assembly of Open Science thought leaders from around the globe to participate in the selection committee.
The competition awards annually $100,000 to deserving recipients. The International Main Prize includes $55,000 in research funds and $25,000 in salary support. In addition, $10,000 is awarded for the International Trainee Prize,$5,000 for the Canadian Trainee Prize,and $1,000 for five runners-up. Prize winners are invited to present to an international audience at the annual Open Science in Action Symposium at The Neuro. Former prize winners also join the selection committee for subsequent competitions, fostering a genuine sense of community and collaboration.
In just four years, TOSI has received over 120 applications for globally recognized initiatives involving more than 300 applicants from over 18 countries across six continents. The Main Prize has been awarded to groups from around the world, while the Trainee Prizes have recognized graduate and postdoctoral trainees from academic institutions across multiple countries.
Successful applicants have demonstrated impact in diverse open science practices, such as creating open-source microscopes, developing community-driven data standards, fostering learning communities and producing open-source software. Winners' testimonies reveal that, more than the monetary reward, they value being acknowledged for their contributions and the community of practice that the program fosters.
The next call for applications will take place in early 2025.
Contributed by: The Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (Gabriel Pelletier, Annabel Seyller, Leah Lefort).