QEPrize Winner Announcement 2026

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The 2026 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is awarded to Alim Louis Benabid, Jocelyne Bloch, Graeme Clark, Grégoire Courtine, John Donoghue, Erwin Hochmair, Ingeborg Hochmair, Pierre Pollak and Blake Wilson for the design and development of modern neural interfaces that restore human function.

Together, these innovations represent a new frontier in neuroprosthetics, where engineering and medicine converge to restore capabilities once thought lost forever. The winners were announced by QEPrize Chair Lord Vallance of Balham at the Science Museum in London in February 2026.

Photographs: QEPrize/Jason Alden

The 2026 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Laureates for pioneering achievements in neuroengineering to restore human function are (L-R) Grégoire Courtine, Jocelyne Bloch, Alim Louis Benabid, Pierre Pollak, John Donoghue, Graeme Clark, Ingeborg Hochmair and Erwin Hochmair and Blake Wilson (not pictured).

Some of our 22026 Laureates speaking about their work

(L-R) QEPrize Director Jonathan Narbett, Jocelyne Bloch, Grégoire Courtine and QEPrize Chair Lord Vallance of Balham

QEPrize Director Jonathan Narbett speaking on stage

(L-R) QEPrize Director Jonathan Narbett, Professor Pierre Pollak, Professor Alim Louis Benabid and QEPrize Chair Lord Vallance of Balham

QEPrize Chair Lord Vallance of Balham speaking on stage

(L-R) QEPrize Director Jonathan Narbett, Professor Graeme Clark, Dr Ingeborg Hochmair, Professor Dr Erwin Hochmair and QEPrize Chair Lord Vallance of Balham

Professor Jocelyne Bloch speaking on stage

Professor Graeme Clark, Dr Ingeborg Hochmair and Professor Dr Erwin Hochmair

Professor Jocelyne Bloch and Professor Grégoire Courtine with Lord Vallance of Balham

QEPrize Chair of Judges Professor Dame Lynn Gladden

(L-R) Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, Professor Alim Louis Benabid, Dr Ingeborg Hochmair, Professor John Donoghue and Professor Jocelyne Bloch

(L-R) Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, Professor Alim Louis Benabid, Dr Ingeborg Hochmair, Professor John Donoghue, Professor Jocelyne Bloch and Zoe Kleinman

Create the Trophy competition Chair of Judges Sir Ian Blatchford

Create the Trophy competition Highly Commended award recipient Laura Smith with Sir Ian Blatchford

Lord Vallance of Balham, Laura Smith, Create the Trophy competition judges Jack Biltcliffe and Philippa Jefferis

Create the Trophy competition judges Jack Biltcliffe and Philippa Jefferis with finalist Šimon Macurek

Create the Trophy competition judges Jack Biltcliffe and Philippa Jefferis with finalist Cameron Wallace

Create the Trophy competition judges Jack Biltcliffe and Philippa Jefferis with finalist Minuli Vitharana

Create the Trophy competition judges Jack Biltcliffe and Philippa Jefferis with finalist Cain Crawford

Guests at the QEPrize 2026 Winner Announcement

Dame Tamara Margaret Finkelstein with QEPrize 2026 Laureates Professor John Donoghue and Professor Pierre Pollak

Professor Pierre Pollak, Professor John Donoghue and Professor Alim Louis Benabid

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