The Holberg Prize

The Holberg Prize is awarded annually to a scholar who have made outstanding contributions to research in the arts and humanities, social sciences, law or theology, either within one of these fields or through interdisciplinary work. The Prize has a money value of NOK 6,000,000. The Prize winner is announced medio March each year, and the award ceremony takes place during the Holberg Week, heldt in the first week of June each year, in Bergen.

The prize is named after the Danish-Norwegian writer Ludvig Holberg, who excelled in all of the sciences covered by the award. It was established by the Norwegian Parliament 1 July 2003, and awarded for the first time in 2004. 

The 2023 Holberg Prize is awarded to Catalan scholar Joan Martinez-Alier for his ground-breaking research in ecological economics, political ecology and environmental justice.

The Nils Klim Prize

The Holberg Prize also awards the Nils Klim Prize to Nordic scholars under the age of 35, for outstanding contributions within the same academic fields as the Holberg Prize. The prize is worth NOK 500,000. 

Particular importance is placed on the researcher’s independence and innovative ability. Consideration is also given to whether the research contribution in question can be deemed particularly outstanding or promising in light of the researcher’s age, the nature of the research project and the research traditions in the academic field in question.

The 2023 Nils Klim Prize is awarded to Danish literary researcher Simona Zetterberg-Nielsen for her research into the history of the Danish novel, its narrative structure and its fictionality.

The Holberg School Programme

Each year the Holberg Prize stage a research competition for students in Norwegian upper secondary schools. More than 500 students from 20 schools participate, and are aided throughout the year by researchers within the relevant fields. A teacher grant is also awarded.

The Holberg Week

Holberg Week is an event series, with debates and lectures that is held every year in the days leading up to the award ceremony. All events, with exception of the Award Ceremony and Holberg Banquet, are open and free of charge to the general public.

The Holberg Debate

The Holberg Debate is inspired by Ludvig Holberg as man of the Age of Enlightenment and seeks to explore pressing issues of our time. The debate will be held annually on the first Saturday in December, commemorating Holberg’s birthday on 3 December. 

Nomination

Scholars holding positions at universities and other research institutions, including academies, are entitled to nominate candidates to the Holberg Prize and the Nils Klim Prize. The deadline is 15 June each year and the nomination form is made available on the Holberg Prize webpage medio November the year before.