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Contribute to achieving national priorities in research, development, and innovation.
NCPD International Prize
About the Prize
Driven by a vision of excellence in the global date palm and dates sector, the National Center for Palms and Dates International Prize was established with three core categories that encourage pioneering research, promote innovation, and develop products in the date palm and dates sector. The prize also supports the application and exchange of expertise to develop new solutions that improve the quality and sustainability of palms and dates. It is held annually to strengthen scientific, technical, and innovative impact by individuals and organizations from around the world.
Prize Objectives
Recognize organizations, institutions, and individuals contributing to the advancement of the date palm and dates sector.
Encourage innovation and practical solutions for developing unique technologies, products, and practices in the date palm and dates sector.
Attract talented researchers, innovators, creators, and experts in the date palm and dates sector.
Prize Categories
Best Scientific Research
Total prizes reach SAR 500,000
Excellence in Innovative Palm Technologies
Total prizes reach SAR 500,000
New Product Development
Total prizes reach SAR 500,000
Priority Areas
Innovative Biotechnology
Improve palm genetic traits, date productivity, and quality using modern biotechnology.
Water and Irrigation Systems
Develop advanced technologies that improve irrigation water efficiency, reduce water footprint, and increase date quality.
Environmental Sustainability
Develop methods and technologies that protect the environment through palms and dates.
Integrated Pest and Disease Management
Develop methods and technologies that protect palms and dates from pests and diseases.
Food and Processing Industries
Develop sustainable products and processing industries from palm and date products and by-products to enhance environmental and economic sustainability.
Modern Agricultural Practices and Innovative Technologies
Develop automation, innovative agricultural practices, farm management, and harvest and post-harvest technologies to improve quality and efficiency.
Prize Journey
- Applications Open
- Applications Close
- Screening
- Judging
- Prize Announcement
Prize in Numbers
General Application Requirements
- Apply in Arabic or English only.
- The submission under consideration must not have previously won any national or international prizes or competitions.
- Winners are not allowed to apply until three years after the date of their win.
- An entrant may only apply for one category.
- All application files are kept at the headquarters of the National Center for Palms and Dates International Prize Secretariat with the utmost confidentiality and will not be returned to the candidates, whether they win or not.
- The applicant specifies the framework in which the work was carried out, the potential and active partners, and the source or sources of financing.
Special Application Requirements
Best Scientific Research Award
The applicant must provide an undertaking on their organization’s letterhead that the results or innovations presented to the scientific committee are solely from their own research. The applicant may submit no fewer than one and no more than three scientific papers related to the proposed topic.
Excellence in Innovative Palm Technologies Award
Applications must be submitted in writing on the organization’s letterhead, confirming that the results or innovations submitted to the committee are solely from the applicant’s own research when the applicant is an individual. If the applicant is an organization, the application must be submitted by the head of the organization (universities, research centers, private companies, foundations, or startups).
New Product Development Award
Applications must be submitted in writing on the organization’s letterhead, confirming that the results or innovations submitted to the committee are solely from the applicant’s own research when the applicant is an individual. If the applicant is an organization, the application must be submitted by the head of the organization (universities, research centers, private companies, foundations, or startups).
Evaluation Criteria
Best Scientific Research Award
- Accuracy and quality of work
- Uniqueness and creativity
- Relevance
- Global impact on educational, social, economic, and environmental levels and contribution to developing the date palm and dates sector
- Problem-solving level
- Effectiveness of work
Excellence in Innovative Palm Technologies Award
- Uniqueness and creativity
- Quality of work
- Relevance
- Target market
- Competitive advantage
- Feasibility and competitiveness
- The global impact of the work on educational, social, economic, and environmental levels
- Contribution to developing the date palm and dates sector
- Importance of the problem solved
- Effectiveness of the work in solving the problem
- The organization’s global impact on educational, social, economic, and environmental levels
New Product Development Award
- Uniqueness and creativity
- Quality of work
- Relevance
- Target market
- Competitive advantage
- Feasibility and competitiveness
- Product presentation
- The global impact of the work on educational, social, economic, and environmental levels
- Contribution to developing the date palm and dates sector
- Importance of the problem solved
- The product’s effectiveness in solving the problem
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jboory
Member
Dr. Abid Hussain
Member
Dr. Abdullatif Alkhateeb
Chairman
Dr. Moulay Hassan Sedra
Member
Dr. Kaihei Koshio
Member
Dr. Glenn C. Wright
Member
Dr. Hassan Ali Dinar
Member
Frequently Asked Questions
An annual prize that supports excellence and innovation in the global palm and dates sector by recognizing leading scientific research, innovative technologies, and new product development
The prize is open to individuals and organizations from all countries
No, each participant may apply to one category only
The applicant cannot edit or change the application after it has been submitted
Yes, you can withdraw by contacting the prize team at ncpd_prize@ncpd.gov.sa
The prize is held annually and the winners are announced during an annual ceremony
Yes, winners are required to attend and receive the prize