Rolex Awards for Enterprise

The Rolex logo

The Rolex Awards is a series of biennial awards "aimed at fostering a spirit of enterprise around the world", promoted by the Swiss wristwatch company Rolex. The awards recognize outstanding achievement, particularly in the areas of science and medicine, technology and innovation, exploration and discovery,; the environment, and cultural heritage.

The awards are given to five Laureates and five Associate Laureates for pioneering efforts to expand knowledge and improve human life. Laureates receive US$100,000 each; the Associate Laureates, US$50,000.

As of 2011, 115 laureates have been selected since the awards were established in 1976. Judging is done by world-famous experts. All Laureates and Associate Laureates apply in their own behalf.

Young Laureates Programme

In 2009 the Rolex Awards introduced the Young Laureates Programme. This program goal is to "foster innovation in the next generation" The program selects 5 young enterprising individuals and provides with them funding and resources for their projects.

Award-winners

Young Laureates Award

2014

Neeti Kailas, India, Develop a unique system to carry out early and mass screenings of newborns in resource-poor settings to monitor hearing loss and prevent the consequent loss of speech.
Olivier Nsengimana, Rwanda, Save Rwanda’s Grey Crowned Crane, which faces increasing threats to its habitat and a growing illegal trade, in order to conserve Rwanda’s biodiversity.
Francesco Sauro, Italy, Lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists to explore ancient quartzite caves in table-top mountains between Venezuela and Brazil and uncover the secrets behind the landscape’s evolution.
Arthur Zang, Cameroon, Reduce the rate of cardiovascular-disease mortality in countries with a shortage of cardiologists by using a Cardio-pad medical tablet to perform cardiac examinations and permit remote readings.
Hosam Zowawi, Saudi Arabia, Develop faster laboratory tests for superbugs and raise awareness of antibiotic resistance in the Gulf States through an education campaign.

2012

Sumit Dagar, India, Develop a Braille smartphone to improve life for India's blind people
Karina Atkinson, United Kingdom, Foster research and responsible tourism in a bio-diversity hotspot
Selene Biffi, Italy, Revive traditional storytelling to craft a new narrative for Afghanistan
Maritza Morales Casanova, Mexico, Build a park for environmental education in the Yucatán
Arun Krishnamurthy, India, Restore urban lakes in India
Erika Cuéllar, Bolivia, Train local people in the Chaco Region to protect the biodiversity of this environment.

2010

Jacob Colker, United States, Enable smartphone users to become volunteers by donating spare minutes to charitable, scientific and community organizations.
Reese Fernandez, The Philippines, Help impoverished women earn a decent wage by upcycling waste, turning it into high-value "eco-ethical, elegant" products
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, Nigeria, Improve the lives of farmers in Nigeria through the development of an interactive, rural radio service
Piyush Tewari, India, Train a network of police officers and volunteers to provide rapid medical care to road accident victims in Delhi
Bruktawit, Ethiopia, Tackle the high child mortality rate in Ethiopia through a television series designed to teach children about health

2009

Reese Fernandez, founder of Rags2Riches, an upcycling fashion enterprise supporting women in the Philippines
Jacob Colker, an American harnessing human fascination with social media to generate volunteerism
Bruktawit Tigabu, saving children through accessible, engaging education in Ethiopia
Piyush Tewari, creator of SaveLIFE Foundation in India to improve emergency response to road accidents
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, tackling poverty through supporting farmers in Nigeria with informational radio broadcasts

Laureates

2008

Talal Akasheh, Jordan, Cultural Heritage, Help conserve ancient Petra from the ravages of time and tourism
Tim Bauer, The Philippines, Applied Technology, Reduce pollution from motorized tricycles in Asian cities
Andrew McGonigle, Italy, Applied Technology, Develop a way to predict volcanic eruptions using a remote-controlled helicopter
Andrew Muri, South Africa, Environment, Provide training and jobs to young people orphaned by AIDS
Elsa Zaldívar, Paraguay, Applied Technology, Combine loofah and plastic waste to make low-cost housing

2006

Alexandra Lavriller, Siberia, Cultural Heritage, Establish a travelling school to revive a vanishing culture
Brad Norman, Australia, Environment, Create a system of identification to protect the whale shark
Pilai Poonswad, Thailand, Environment, Save threatened hornbills and their habitat in Thailand
Chanda Shroff, India, Cultural Heritage, Revive traditional hand embroidery to create a sustainable income for women
Rory Wilson, United Kingdom, Applied Technology, Use mobile technology to track how wild animals use energy

2004

Lonnie Dupre, an explorer who crossed the Arctic in the summer of 2005
Claudia Feh, a scientist working with Mongolian nomads
Archeologist David Lordkipanidze
Teresa Manera, who works to preserve prehistoric animal footprints
Kikuo Morimoto, whose work is to revive Cambodian silk producing, particularly as a means of providing employment for Cambodian villagers

2002

Michel André, France, Applied Technology, Protecting whales from collisions with ships
José Márcio Ayres, Brazil, Environment, Protecting the Amazon forest
Dave Irvine-Halliday, Canada, Applied Technology, Supplying low-cost LED lighting systems to people in developing countries
Lindy Rodwell, South Africa, Environment, Protecting blue and wattled cranes
Gordon Sato, United States, Environment, Planting mangrove trees in Eritrea

2000

Elizabeth Nicholls, Canada, Exploration, a paleontologist who excavated a 23-meter ichtyosaur fossil

1998

Wijaya Godakumbura, Sri Lanka, Science & Health, development of Safe bottle lamp

1990

Anita Studer, Switzerland, Environment, replanting Brazilian rainforest

Associate Laureates