Sony Group Corporation and Nature have announced that applications are now open for the 2027 Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature. The annual award recognizes outstanding early to mid career women researchers working in technology fields including science, engineering, and mathematics whose work is driving meaningful impact for society and the planet.

The award program aims to support and highlight promising women researchers at critical stages of their careers. By providing financial support and global visibility, the initiative seeks to encourage innovation and empower women whose research contributes to solving global challenges.

Applications for the 2027 award cycle opened on March 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM GMT and will remain open until June 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT. The recipients of the 2027 award will be announced in early 2027.

Three winners will be selected, and each recipient will receive a prize of 250,000 US dollars. The award funding is intended to help accelerate the winners’ research activities and support the further development of their work. In addition, the winners will have an opportunity to showcase their achievements on the global scientific platform nature.com.

Submissions will be evaluated by an international judging panel composed of respected scientists, technologists, and research leaders from around the world. The panel will include Dr Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature, and Hiroaki Kitano, Chief Technology Fellow of Sony Group Corporation.

Applications will be assessed based on ambition, innovation, conceptual excellence, research impact, and broader social significance. The judging panel will review how each research project contributes to technological advancement and addresses challenges that affect society and the environment.

Hiroaki Kitano noted that the achievements of previous winners and finalists have demonstrated the extraordinary range of innovative research led by women across the globe. He stated that the award was created to champion bold ideas with real world impact and to recognize researchers whose work spans diverse disciplines, from engineering and the sciences to emerging technologies and creative fields.

Dr Magdalena Skipper highlighted the importance of supporting women researchers in technology and science. She noted that the work of previous award recipients shows how creativity and excellence in research can lead to tangible benefits for society.

Despite this progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in science and technology worldwide. According to UNESCO data, women represent approximately one third of researchers globally and account for about 35 percent of STEM graduates. The award program aims to help address this imbalance by raising the visibility of women scientists and engineers and supporting their contributions to innovation and discovery.

The Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature is open to women researchers conducting research and development in technology related fields. Eligible applicants may work at universities, research institutes, or university spin out companies.

Through this initiative, Sony and Nature aim to strengthen support networks for women researchers and encourage broader participation in technological innovation worldwide.

Sony Group Corporation is a global entertainment and technology company with businesses spanning gaming, music, film production, imaging technology, and electronics. The company’s mission is to inspire creativity and innovation through the integration of technology and storytelling.

Nature Portfolio is a leading scientific publishing platform known for its influential journals and research publications across life sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, and applied sciences. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio supports researchers worldwide through publishing, data services, and training programs designed to advance scientific discovery.