Celebrating ten years of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
![HRH The Prince of Wales presents the QEPrize trophy to Dr Kazuaki Takahashi on behalf of the late Professor Isamu Akasaki at the 2021 QEPrize Presentation](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/galleries/HRH-The-Prince-of-Wales-presents-the-QEPrize-trophy-to-Dr-Kazuaki-Takahashi-on-behalf-of-the-late-Professor-Isamu-Akasaki-at-the-2021-QEPrize-Presentation.jpg?w=1152&h=384&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4918&fp-y=0.3284&dm=1699520009&s=7a5a185314db3554728bd178e1945e04 1152w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/galleries/HRH-The-Prince-of-Wales-presents-the-QEPrize-trophy-to-Dr-Kazuaki-Takahashi-on-behalf-of-the-late-Professor-Isamu-Akasaki-at-the-2021-QEPrize-Presentation.jpg?w=1213&h=404.33333333333&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4918&fp-y=0.3284&dm=1699520009&s=92cf05c9359c12a2e566cd13086e8966 1213w)
Categories: QEPrize
The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) champions bold, ground-breaking engineering innovations which are of global benefit to humanity. Now, as we come to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the prize, learn more about some of our key milestones.
2011
The QEPrize was launched in November 2011 at London’s Science Museum, initiated by the coalition government and with cross-party support from Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband.
![DSC 035](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/DSC-035.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520424&s=7199c7db6d102909a4afa8eae7602da2 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/DSC-035.jpg?w=1024&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520424&s=38eaeb92c1ecf01fb27c48b8f351106a 1024w)
Lord Browne at the launch of the QEPrize in 2011
![DSC 039](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/DSC-039.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520425&s=191e422a9e3cd88d206cb892d5f46ed4 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/DSC-039.jpg?w=1024&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520425&s=bef309a212eb3fe046bb25c9379d45a9 1024w)
Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband
2012
The first Create the Trophy competition was held in 2012. We gave young people with interests in science, engineering, design, art, and architecture the opportunity to design the trophy for the 2013 QEPrize winners. The winner of the competition was 17-year-old Jennifer Leggett from Tonbridge, with her beautifully designed tree-like structure. Jennifer then went on to become a Chartered Engineer and is now featured in the Engineers gallery at the Science Museum.
The 2024 Create the Trophy competition is currently open for entries until 11 December 2023.
![Jennifer Leggett with 2013 trophy landscape](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/Jennifer-Leggett-with-2013-trophy-landscape.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519870&s=6601257d4922ecb469a95d2e65a53bfa 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/Jennifer-Leggett-with-2013-trophy-landscape.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519870&s=e49f92f19a3806c2b344d9ec577f4bbf 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/Jennifer-Leggett-with-2013-trophy-landscape.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519870&s=ecf051f3db473efa7d845eddd2d8c664 1920w)
Jennifer Leggett
2013
In March 2013, HRH The Princess Royal joined us for the announcement of the first ever QEPrize winners, Louis Pouzin, Robert Kahn, Vinton Cerf, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and Marc Andreessen, who gave us the internet and the World Wide Web.
The winners and their families gathered at Guildhall in the City of London with a host of industry and political guests, including future Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with his father-in-law, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, one of the inaugural QEPrize judges.
TRH Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were guests of honour at Guildhall and Princess Eugenie gave a powerful speech about the impact of medical engineering on her own life through her treatment for scoliosis.
![HRH Princess Anne at the announcement of the QE Prize winners](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/HRH-Princess-Anne-at-the-announcement-of-the-QEPrize-winners.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520445&s=37d51cf4a356785b5f3e79f1b0847d7b 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/HRH-Princess-Anne-at-the-announcement-of-the-QEPrize-winners.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520445&s=102275b54996b48f94590c6acafc98e2 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/people/HRH-Princess-Anne-at-the-announcement-of-the-QEPrize-winners.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520445&s=51f9ebe18014ef19e92534f329cb3c5c 1920w)
HRH The Princess Royal at the 2013 QEPrize announcement
Narayana Murthy and Rishi Sunak
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie with the 2013 QEPrize Laureates
Robots, engineering themed cocktails and haute couture wearable tech greeted hundreds of people who gathered at Tate Modern in the evening to celebrate the prize, including media, politicians and guests from across the engineering and business communities.
Celebrations at the Tate Modern
2014
November 2014 saw the launch of the global Ambassador Network programme at Prince Philip House, including an engineering fashion show, VR, Lego and more robots.
As of 2023, our Ambassador Network represents 14 countries and over 90 different companies, from all corners of the engineering profession.
![Q Eprize061114 14](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEprize061114_-14.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519895&s=98c63761da20d245e46f998ff45f1af6 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEprize061114_-14.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519895&s=0d928d7ef625b69595912a67bae20464 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEprize061114_-14.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519895&s=4e4ef8ece23be103790511204464db13 1920w)
Launching of the QEPrize Ambassador Network at Prince Philip House
From the start, the QEPrize aimed to inspire young people to consider a career in engineering, with Ambassadors visiting schools and helping at events to help people learn more about the profession. The Association of State Girls’ Schools event brought 150 students from schools across London and the South East to Prince Philip House for a day of practical fun and meeting real engineers.
![Q Eprize 021014 104](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEprize_021014-104.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519896&s=e6aa984c06f5309870408200ef431f21 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEprize_021014-104.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519896&s=32a2e767a4c4c3d6d9a1d6169424777a 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEprize_021014-104.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519896&s=cff4eddc80f00a40757f7f1520e61528 1920w)
Association of State Girls’ Schools event
2015
The Queen presented the 2015 QEPrize to Dr Robert Langer for his developments in controlled drug delivery. Dr Langer was presented with a trophy designed by Euan Fairholm, the winner of the Create the Trophy competition for that year.
The Queen and Dr Langer
2017
HRH The Princess Royal announced Eric Fossum, George Smith, Nobukazu Teranishi and Michael Tompsett as the 2017 QEPrize winners for digital imaging sensors.
Later that year, HRH The Prince of Wales presented the QEPrize for the first time at Buckingham Palace.
![QEP 010217 153](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEP_010217-153.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519891&s=b106eb692e7124399f811865148b33d9 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEP_010217-153.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519891&s=f0ec1cb9f12a45d1f13e00bbb1cd6e8d 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEP_010217-153.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519891&s=f19f2edbad17a4ef5e542f7cc7de7751 1920w)
HRH The Princess Royal with 2017 QEPrize Laureates
![QE Prize 2017 032](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEPrize_2017_032.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519895&s=d4d08695a825d2bbf259cfb218c79b46 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEPrize_2017_032.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519895&s=753356aff9e8aba3dec445ebd4c969af 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEPrize_2017_032.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519895&s=74eec605911d9d667312cf1b9f1c2150 1920w)
HRH The Prince of Wales with 2017 QEPrize Laureates
School students gathered to meet QEPrize Ambassador Vinita Marwaha Madill with our winners to hear how they developed digital imaging technology – and take a selfie!
![A selfie with the creators of the digital imaging sensor during an event at the Science Museum.](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/LJ-and-Panel-Selfie.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520209&s=2bf509f4fae92d07719824dc713d49cf 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/LJ-and-Panel-Selfie.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520209&s=812033a4f1af7ba6248c22fbf314356d 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/LJ-and-Panel-Selfie.jpg?w=1500&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520209&s=1bf7e0968c822c0098c18e31a6f7a12f 1500w)
QEPrize Ambassador Vinita Marwaha Madill with the 2017 QEPrize Laureates
To mark International Women in Engineering Day nearly 400 people gathered at the Science Museum's IMAX to watch Hidden Figures, a film about three African-American women working at NASA, whose work was practically unknown for 50 years.
In a discussion panel beforehand, the audience heard from engineers who are pioneering the latest developments in space technology, including QEPrize podcast host and Create the Trophy judge Roma Agrawal.
![170619 RAE 183](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/170619-RAE-183.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519834&s=60560f8373fbcfbbb81adfcee70357e1 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/170619-RAE-183.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519834&s=c281722f89baea4b6a15103e85849f12 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/170619-RAE-183.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519834&s=acbc2d15032f12cc0992dc4f92623ea1 1920w)
Screening of Hidden Figures at the Science Museum IMAX
2018
HRH The Prince of Wales attended an engineering careers event at Dumfries House in Scotland in 2018, where QEPrize Ambassadors led an engaging session for local high school students.
HRH The Prince of Wales at the 2018 careers event, Dumfries House
2019
The 2019 QEPrize was awarded to Dr Bradford Parkinson, Professor James Spilker, Jr, Hugo FrueHauf, and Richard Schwartz for their work on the Global Positioning System (GPS). That year's winning trophy design was created by Jack Jiang.
![The 2019 QEPrize winners](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/galleries/QEP_2019_049.png?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520040&s=c142d5f7a5155b33fcf30ba8806442f2 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/galleries/QEP_2019_049.png?w=1344&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520040&s=3750f2466324b5537638bfdb52fe3fb8 1344w)
2019 QEPrize Laureates
The Create the Future podcast was launched in 2019 to show the profound impact that engineering had, and continues to have, on the world around us.
Now, well into season four, hear hosts Roma Agrawal MBE and 2022 Royal Academy of Engineering Young Engineer of the Year George Imafidon MBE, discuss how engineering impacts our daily lives, with a range of global experts. From baking and knitting to robots and brain imaging, the podcast highlights how broad engineering is and how it can be accessible to anyone.
![Roma baking podcast](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/Roma-baking-podcast.jpeg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519900&s=7962880417a6712177f8fe50d27a647a 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/Roma-baking-podcast.jpeg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519900&s=3c26f356d3d9797a9f3f4219cdd2fbd0 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/Roma-baking-podcast.jpeg?w=1400&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519900&s=bb5b55160e63c99924a71ad67a8946a2 1400w)
Roma Agrawal and guest Andrew Smyth
2021
The 2021 winners of the QEPrize were Professor Isamu Akasaki, Professor Shuji Nakamura, Professor Nick Holonyak Jr, Dr M George Craford and Professor Russell Dupuis for their work on LED lighting. HRH The Prince of Wales presented the trophies, which were designed by the Create the Trophy competition winner of that year, Hannah Goldsmith.
![HRH The Prince of Wales with the 2021 QEPrize winners at the 2021 QEPrize Presentation](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/galleries/HRH-The-Prince-of-Wales-with-the-2021-QEPrize-winners.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5049&fp-y=0.3445&dm=1699520015&s=8ed78d48af5628f713302129dd030b12 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/galleries/HRH-The-Prince-of-Wales-with-the-2021-QEPrize-winners.jpg?w=1280&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5049&fp-y=0.3445&dm=1699520015&s=5300c2a51c1c6d07ef334ea2a2ec38fd 1280w)
2021 QEPrize Laureates with HRH The Prince of Wales, Lord Browne and Dame Lynn Gladden
2023
In June of this year, the Engineers gallery launched at the Science Museum, for which the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a Major Funder. The gallery celebrates our engineering heritage and showcases innovations through the global lens of the QEPrize – with current and past prize winners featured throughout. The gallery is free to enter, and you can find tickets online.
![QEP 220623 368](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEP_220623-368.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519892&s=196301de2225a1b717640c4a59b27934 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEP_220623-368.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519892&s=6fc0d38c5b33f54235d71ebf48393247 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/QEP_220623-368.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699519892&s=eb657f27ac483ee8b80026e9f3df42be 1920w)
The launch of the Engineers Gallery at the Science Museum
In October 2023, the Laureates from 2022 and 2023 will be presented with their trophies at Buckingham Palace by His Majesty The King.