Extramural Coordinated Funding


UM Submission Instructions: Frontiers Planet Prize 2026

Sponsor:
Frontiers Research Foundation
Award Title:
Frontiers Planet Prize
Amount:
$1M
$1,000,000
UM Deadline:
10/01/2026
Sponsor Deadline:
11/01/2026
Description:
The Frontiers Planet Prize recognizes transformational research that shows the greatest potential to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges. With that in mind, the process is exceptionally rigorous and thorough, and engages with all stakeholders within the academic community.

Three awards of $1,000,000 each are given each year to researchers whose work has the greatest potential to address the ecological crisis. It’s the world’s biggest prize for transformative, science-based breakthroughs to enable healthy lives on a healthy planet.
Research must be based on one research article, published in established, peer-reviewed scientific journals, with robust peer review and transparent publication procedures.
Each nomination is based on one article, published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2026.
The research must (1) Provide actionable, transformative solutions to keep global development within safe planetary boundaries; (2) Advance understanding of the Earth system and quantification of planetary boundaries, and (3) Connect to several planetary boundaries.

The prize welcomes breakthrough research across all disciplines, on condition it is focused on planetary boundaries and presents original research findings or insightful reviews and syntheses that help to reduce the destabilization of the Earth system.
Number of Applicants University is Allowed to submit:
3
Additional Requirements:
None
Sponsor Guidelines:
https://www.frontiersplanetprize.org/how-it-works (opens in a new window)
UM Nominations Process:
Send one article along with your name, email, department, and college to vpfaa@umn.edu with “Frontiers Planet Prize” in the subject line by 5:00 PM on October 1.
The deadline for submitting nominations to the funder is November 1. The internal deadline of October 1 will allow time for the internal selection process and notification of those selected.
Those chosen nominees will be sent the link to the submission form.
Peer Review Coordination:
Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost contact email
Status:
Open
Please note:
To be considered for peer review and internal selection, faculty must follow the above submission guidelines and meet the UM deadline as set by the office coordinating the peer review for this opportunity.

General Information


  • Each posting has information about the external sponsor and opportunity as well as the internal application instructions.
  • Opportunities can be sorted by column headings; just click on the heading to re-sort by that column.
  • When a link redirects you to another site, it opens in a new browser window.
  • If you know of an opportunity that is not on the list, please contact Kristin Mead.

Internal Requirements


  • Sponsor: Name of funder.
  • Award Title: Funding opportunity nameAmount: Range/Maximum dollar amount awarded.
  • UMN Deadline: Submission deadline for internal proposal as determined by the coordinating office.
  • Sponsor Deadline: External deadline identified by the sponsor.
  • Description: General information about the sponsor and the funding opportunity. Usually describes the purpose of the funding opportunity, overview of what the sponsor is looking for, including distinctive criteria. This is not meant to take the place of the sponsor guidelines; please read the sponsor guidelines before deciding to apply.
  • Number of Applicants University is Allowed to Submit: The maximum number of applications the sponsor will allow the university to submit.
  • Additional Requirements: Identifies any special requirements such as cost sharing, partners, etc.
  • Sponsor Guidelines: Link to the sponsor’s funding opportunity website.
  • UMN Nominations Process: Contains specific internal submission requirements including internal proposal instructions, deadline, eligibility, internal nomination process, contact information.
  • Peer Review Coordination: The name and contact email of the office coordinating the funding opportunity. RIO coordinates most limited submissions, but opportunities coordinated by other offices or programs are also posted on this webpage.
  • Status:
    • Open: UM deadline has not passed and the opportunity is open for application.
    • Forecasted: The funder has not yet formally published the opportunity. The deadline has yet to be determined.
    • Archived: The opportunity has been archived by the funder.
    • Spots Remaining: UMN deadline has passed, with some applicant spots still available. Contact collabor@umn.edu if interested
    • First-Come, First-Served: Applicants accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact collabor@umn.edu if interested
    • Contact Us: The internal deadline has passed, but no applicants were selected. Please contact the office coordinating the peer review for more information.
    • In Review: Peer review process is in progress for the opportunity.
    • PI Selected: The PI(s) have been selected as the official UMN nominees.
    • Closed: UMN is no longer accepting applications.

UMN Selection Process


  • Once the internal deadline has passed, if the number of applicants is less than or equal to the number of spots the university is allowed to send forward, the applicants automatically become the UMN nominee(s).
  • If the status of an opportunity is "First-Come, First-Served", there was not time to hold an internal review. Applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • If there are no applicants, the status will change to "Contact Us". At this point, the opportunity changes to a first-come, first-served opportunity.
  • If there are multiple applicants, the office coordinating the nomination will determine the review criteria and coordinate the review process. The status will change to "In Review".
  • Once the review has been completed all parties will be notified via email.
  • Nominees will be provided with an email from RIO (or the designated coordinating office) indicating that they are the university's nominee. This letter should accompany the nominee's proposal.
  • SPA is notified of the university's nominee(s) and the status is updated to "PI(s) Selected".