The Matnex Prize
We're looking for solutions to the most challenging material problems and you could win up to $25k for your idea!
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Transforming the Future: Announcing the Matnex Prize
Materials like concrete, steel, and glass have been the bedrock of human civilization, driving progress for centuries. However, as we stand on the brink of the next millennia, the materials we will rely on to solve tomorrow's challenges have yet to be invented.
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Over the past year, the field of material science has seen unprecedented excitement, with breakthroughs in discovery, development, and innovation long overdue. To accelerate this momentum and push the boundaries of what’s possible, we are proud to introduce the Matnex Prize.
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This prestigious award will recognize and reward researchers tackling some of the most complex and unresolved challenges in material science and engineering using materials. We are looking for solutions that not only advance theoretical understanding but also pave the way for transformative real world applications.
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Finalists and runners up will be invited to an awards ceremony and are given the opportunity of joining the Matnex team to bring their solution to life. A total award pool of US$50,000 will be available as awards to outstanding applicants. First place could be awarded up to US$25,000 to develop their idea further.
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The Matnex Prize is a call to the global scientific community to rise to these challenges and shape the future of materials.
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Submission process:
We are looking for individual researchers to submit proposals for how you would solve a novel materials problem (some example are provided below) in the form of a short research plan/paper.
Your proposal should be no longer than 5,000 words, and must include an executive summary/abstract, literature review, theoretical background, resource plan and timelines.
Final submissions must be made before 31st March 2025. A shortlist of researchers will be invited to present their proposals to an expert panel in June with final winners announced in July.
Submission deadline: 31st March 2025
Presentations: Late June 2025
Award Ceremony: Late July 2025
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Example challenges:
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Simulating Abnormal Grain Growth and Multi-Phase Microstructures
Current methodologies struggle to account for irregularities in grain size distribution and the complexities of multi-phase microstructures. Deviations in grain size distribution remain poorly modeled. Mobilities determined from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are 2–4 orders of magnitude higher than those observed experimentally. Developing a theory or model that bridges this gap could revolutionize the predictive accuracy of material simulations.
Predicting Actual Phase Formation in Alloy Systems
Despite predicting a stable phase, alloys often deviate from expected outcomes during formation. A composition predicted to form 100% of Phase X (e.g., 50A–50B) might instead phase-separate into unexpected formations like Phase Y (75A–25B) and Phase Z (25A–75B). The challenge is to accurately predict the true phases and quantities that will form, accounting for these phase-separation phenomena.
Recyclable Formable Materials
Current formable materials suffer from quality loss and property degradation across multiple recycling cycles. The challenge is to engineer new compositions and processing techniques that maintain 100% recyclability without sacrificing mechanical performance or versatility.
Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or a trailblazing newcomer, we encourage you to contribute to solving these pressing problems.
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Let’s build the future of materials—together.
Matnex Prize: Terms & Conditions
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The applicant cannot submit on behalf of an organization, research group, or academic institution.
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Winners are responsible for any tax liabilities associated with final prize money.
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By submitting a paper the Applicant will waive and release any and all claims, demands, and rights of action against the Company, its affiliates, employees, agents, and representatives arising from or related to the Submission. This includes but is not limited to claims for compensation, intellectual property infringement, breach of confidentiality, or any other alleged legal or equitable right.
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The Company has no obligation, express or implied, to use, review, or act upon your Submission in any manner.
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By submitting your work, the Applicant represents and warrants that the Submission is their original creation, that they have all necessary rights to submit it, and that doing so does not violate any laws, contracts, or rights of third parties.