The Wittgenstein Award (German: Wittgenstein-Preis) is an Austrian science award supporting the notion that "scientists should be guaranteed the greatest possible freedom and flexibility in the performance of their research.
[1] The award provides aims to express recognition and to support "excellent scientists"[1] up to 60 years of age who "have produced exceptional scientific work and who occupy a prominent place in the international scientific community".
Awardees receive financial support up to 1.5 million euro to be spent over a period of five years.
[1] Nominations can be expressed by rectors as well as vice rectors for research of Austrian universities; the president of the Austrian Academy of Sciences; the president of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA); and all previous Wittgenstein-Preis awardees.
[1] Nominees must be 60 years old or younger; permanently employed at an Austrian research institution; internationally recognised in their respective academic field; and have their center of life in Austria for at least one year at the time of the nomination.