May-Britt Moser at an NPII event in Spain

Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative

The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative (NPII) is a global programme designed to help Nobel Laureates share their inspirational stories and insights. By taking Nobel Laureates on visits to universities and research centres around the world, and by capturing their thoughts on video, the initiative seeks to bring the laureates into closer contact with the worldwide scientific community, and especially with an audience of young scientists.

There have been 28 NPIIs on four continents delivered in partnership with AstraZeneca, a relationship which began in 2010, and one NPII delivered in partnership with 3M.

Our events

The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative brings Laureates in close contact with the global scientific community, especially with young scientists.

Nobel Media has been delivering events in partnership with AstraZeneca since 2010.

Previous events

Recent events

Canada 2019

Martin Chalfie

Brazil 2019

Fraser Stoddart

China 2018

Michael Young

Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative in Hefei, China, with Michael W. Young — © Nobel Media

Discover more

“If you relax, you are creative”

In their journey towards the Nobel Prize, each Nobel Laureate has looked at a problem in a new way. They have used creativity to tackle existing problems, or identify new frontiers.

NPII_China_2014_Paul Nurse — Paul Nurse speaking at a Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative event held in partnership with AstraZeneca

© Nobel Media

Mentorship: a lasting gift

Throughout life we all rely on mentors to train us and guide us. It is a subject which many Nobel Laureates speak passionately about, pointing…

2018_NPII_Spain (5) — May-Britt Moser meeting students during a Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative event in partnership with AstraZeneca

© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud

“I can see any failure as a chance”

Shinya Yamanaka is a runner, a father and the man who first created stem cells from normal body cells. A pioneer of biomedical research, he describes how he was determined to find success in the face of all else.