The 2026 Nucleus Awards
The Nucleus Awards
Celebrate leaders fostering a more innovative and collaborative future.
The 2026 Nucleus Awards
An evening of celebration, connection, and collaboration. The Science Center’s annual Nucleus Awards honor the region’s leaders in innovation, spotlighting the visionaries who are commercializing promising technology, allocating capital, convening the community, and cultivating our STEM workforce.
Bringing together groundbreakers from across the region, the Nucleus Awards is an industry-recognized celebration of Philadelphia’s role as leader in equitable science and technology innovation and inclusive growth.
Join 250+ innovation leaders for a night of celebration that starts with a cocktail reception and a brief award ceremony featuring comments from the awardees, followed by food and networking.
presenting sponsor
2026 Nucleus Award Honorees to be Announced
Commercialization Award
Recognizes outstanding contributions to the commercialization of science and technology. The awardee catalyzes technology transfer, develops new ways to transition ideas to market adoption, and has a tangible impact on quality of life, economic growth, or societal wellbeing.
award sponsor
Capital Award
This award recognizes an individual that has intentionally sourced and invested in startups or founders with the purpose of mobilizing capital to unlock innovation. The Capital awardee is investing in a wide range of perspectives and talents to make transformative change in the STEM ecosystem.
Cultivator Award
Recognizes outstanding contributions in nurturing a talent pipeline in the STEM sectors. The awardee has demonstrated leadership and commitment to building a sustainable workforce that represents the community at large.
Convener Award
Recognizes an individual or organization that has generated new ideas or solutions through collaboration, placemaking, or unique introductions. The awardee has removed barriers to connect assets, resources and strengths of people and organizations with different backgrounds and perspectives to advance civic interests and improve lives.
I leave the Nucleus Awards every year feeling better and more optimistic about the world, which is wonderful.
Revisit 2025 Nucleus Awards
Nucleus Awards Sponsorship
Monies raised through The Nucleus Awards directly support the programs of the Science Center, the life-changing technologies these programs deliver, and the continuation of Philadelphia as a pioneer in science and technology. Thank you to our Nucleus Sponsors as champions of Philadelphia’s innovation community.
The Nucleus Award provides exceptional branding and visibility opportunities in front of 250+ innovators, investors, and civic leaders who influence and support the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Interested in sponsoring the Nucleus Awards?
Presenting Sponsor
Award Sponsors
Questions?
Contact Mike Lyle at mlyle@sciencecenter.org
The Nucleus Awards
Join us September 29, 2026 to celebrate leaders in our region who convene the community, commercialize promising technology and cultivate the future of STEM, during our biggest night of the year.