Research and development are the foundation of progress in the nutrition industry. From ingredient discovery to clinical validation, sound, peer-reviewed research is essential to back product claims, guide innovation, and inform strategic decisions. This award rewards the most impactful research project — whether academic, commercial, or collaborative — that demonstrates scientific excellence, real-world relevance, and push the boundaries of nutritional science.

Judges will look at how your research project has the potential for a positive impact on the nutrition industry, based on the following criteria:

• How the research project is designed to address a genuine consumer demand, nutrition requirement, policy issue or healthcare risk
• Whether the research has provided solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer reviewed data to back up these findings
• Evidence of good research methodology, analysis, and findings consistent with best practices
• The potential for commercial applications or wide-sweeping changes in the industry on the back of research
• What gives your research project the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

JUDGING PROCESS: 

• Entries will be received and reviewed by the NutraIngredients Europe Awards Judging Panel made up of independent judges from the industry.
• Our 2026 finalists will be confirmed and notified in end of March 2026.
• Our 2026 winners will be announced during an awards' presentation in Barcelona on Wednesday May 6, 2026.