Eni Award 2027 Young Talents From Africa Prize

About this opportunity

The Eni Award has run since 2008 to reward scientific research and technological innovation in the energy and environment fields, and the Young Talents from Africa prize is the section built for the continent. It exists to help a new generation of African researchers stay in their own systems while doing work that matters there, which is why the doctorate itself has to be carried out at an African university or research institute rather than abroad.

Two winners are chosen, and each receives a plaque plus €25,000 paid in two instalments against a budget the candidate drafts themselves, so the money is spent on the research rather than handed over as a trophy. Eni also covers return travel, transfers and up to two nights of board and lodging for the winner and one companion for the prize giving ceremony in Italy, although attending the ceremony has no bearing on receiving the grant. Winners are proclaimed by the Organizing Committee within July 2027.

The research topic has to sit inside energy or the environment, from renewable generation, grids and storage to decarbonisation, carbon capture, water treatment, circular economy, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture, and it must fall within natural sciences, engineering and technology, or agricultural sciences. Applying is a two step route rather than a form you can fill in straight away: you write to the Eni Award Secretariat to have a personal account opened, and the contact person then sends you the editable application forms. Your doctoral supervisor or PhD programme director has to write a presentation letter as your guarantor, because applications without one are not accepted.

What you receive

€25,000 paid in two instalments to support the doctoral research
A customised plaque for each of the two winners
Return travel, transfers and up to two nights of board and lodging in Italy for the winner and one companion, for the prize giving ceremony
An estimated budget you design yourself, which can be topped up after the first instalment as long as it stays within €25,000
Encouragement of mentorship from the Eni Award scientific network
Recognition at a ceremony held in the presence of senior Italian state and Eni leadership, with results proclaimed within July 2027

Who can apply

You hold the citizenship of one of the African countries listed in the United Nations World Population Prospects, The 2024 Revision, which includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa
You are under forty years of age or reach forty during the year the Official Announcement is published, which Eni states as born in or after the year 1986
You have obtained a Bachelor degree and a Master degree or their equivalent
You are enrolled in the first or second year of a PhD programme by 20 November 2026, and you are carrying out that doctorate at a university or research institute in one of the listed African countries
Your PhD research topic connects to energy and the environment and has potential benefits for an African country, an African region or the continent as a whole
Your research falls within natural sciences, engineering and technology, or agricultural sciences as Eni defines them after the OECD Frascati manual
Candidates who took part in earlier editions of the Young Talents from Africa prize may apply again if they still meet the conditions above

Who should not apply

Applications without a presentation letter from your doctoral supervisor or PhD programme director, acting as guarantor, will not be accepted
Supporting documents that are not in English need at least an informal English translation, and documents without any English translation will not be considered
The official application language is English, so all application content has to be generated in English

Documents to prepare

Application Form with a short summary of the PhD research work and an explanation of how the prize will improve it
CV Form listing publications, patents or patent applications in the order they appear, with those works attached as PDF files, plus your Master degree thesis and any English proficiency certificates
A motivation letter written by you covering the background and the reason for the application
A detailed description of the PhD research project and its methodology, about two pages in word format
A signed presentation letter from your guarantor describing the scientific quality of your work, the improvement the prize would bring and your human qualities
An estimated expenditure proposal in both local currency and EUR at the exchange rate on the day you submit, consistent with your research
A copy of your Master degree or equivalent certificate in PDF format
A university or research institute letter confirming your PhD enrolment, the year you are attending and the duration of the programme
The Summary of the Candidature Proposal generated on submission, signed and returned by email before the closing date

How to apply

Read the Eni Award page at https://www.eni.com/en-IT/strategic-vision/innovation/eni-awards.html and the Young Talents from Africa Official Announcement PDF linked from it
Email eniaward@feem.it saying you intend to apply for the Young Talents from Africa Prize, and include your family name, given name, date of birth, the name of your PhD affiliation and the country of that affiliation
Wait for the Secretariat to open your personal account and for the contact person to send you the editable application forms
Ask your doctoral supervisor or PhD programme director to write and sign the guarantor presentation letter
Prepare the full package in English, including the budget proposal expressed in local currency and in EUR
Upload the documents to your private area on https://eniaward2027.net/, or send them to your contact person for upload after a completeness check
Optionally add a self made video of no more than three minutes describing your research, which Eni recommends but does not require
Review, sign and email back the Summary of the Candidature Proposal before 20 November 2026 at 5pm Central European Time, then keep the formal acceptance email from the Secretariat

Selection process

Candidatures are assessed by the Eni Award Scientific Commission, made up of scientists from leading global research institutions
Scoring follows the scientific value of the PhD research work, the quality of the proposal, how coherent the estimated budget is, and your motivation and communication skills
The Organizing Committee proclaims the winning candidates within July 2027
The prize giving ceremony is held in Italy, tentatively in the second half of the year following publication of the Official Announcement

Sources and verification

Official source

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Questions applicants ask

Do I have to study in Africa?

Yes. You must be carrying out your doctorate at a university or research institute in one of the African countries on the United Nations list, and be in your first or second year of the PhD by the closing date.

Is the money a personal prize or research funding?

It is €25,000 paid in two instalments against a budget you propose, and the budget has to stay within the prize amount and remain coherent with your PhD research.

Can I apply again if I took part before?

Yes. Candidates who participated in previous editions of the Young Talents from Africa prize may apply for the current edition as long as they still meet the conditions.

Do I need to travel to Italy to win?

No. Eni states that participation in the official prize giving ceremony is independent from the payment of the grant, though travel, transfers and up to two nights of board and lodging are covered for the winner and one companion.

Important disclaimer

Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.