Prof. Emer. Dr Ljubica Marjanovič Umek, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts is awarded the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in developmental psychology.

Prof. Emer. Dr Ljubica Marjanovič Umek is an internationally renowned researcher in developmental psychology, specialising in cognitive and language development in children. Her work has made a significant contribution to understanding the impact of factors such as parents' speech, shared reading and play on children’s early speech development and literacy. Marjanovič Umek developed the first test to assess speech development in Slovenian, thus laying the foundation for professional work in this field. Her research has also demonstrated the importance of early enrolment in a high-quality kindergarten for the development of infants and children.

Acad. Prof. Dr Željko Knez, University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is awarded the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in chemical engineering.

Prof. Dr Željko Knez is one of the leading experts on separation processes and product engineering with subcritical and supercritical fluids at high pressures. The supercritical fluids he has researched are extremely useful in industrial applications, as they can be used in advanced ways to extract desired ingredients, such as caffeine from coffee. The use of supercritical fluids takes place at high pressures and relatively low temperatures, and is further efficient and environmentally friendly. Prof. Dr Željko Knez is credited with the development of many innovative and technological processes, which are protected by more than 40 patents.

Igor Akrapovič is awarded the Puh Prize for lifetime achievement for his lifelong commitment to investing in the continuous development of products and technologies, Akrapovič d.d.

Through his innovation, vision and determination Igor Akrapovič has made breakthroughs in exhaust systems for motorcycles and cars. Using titanium alloys and ceramic composites, developing a complex technology, creating revolutionary design and focusing on quality and performance, he has made his company a global success story. The company Akrapovič sells its own branded products in more than 80 countries. Its exhaust systems have helped drivers win over 180 world championship titles in two-wheel and four-wheel competitions.

Prof. Dr Ivan Šprajc Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies is awarded the Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in Mesoamerican archaeological and archaeoastronomical research.

Prof. Dr Ivan Šprajc has significantly advanced our understanding of astronomical orientation in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican architecture through his pioneering research. His innovative methodology revealed how ancient peoples used astronomy to orient buildings and mark critical moments in the agricultural cycle. The archaeological expeditions he led to the Yucatan Peninsula uncovered not only large urban centres but also a number of small settlements and other remnants of past life, greatly expanding our knowledge of Maya settlement patterns, economy and political geography. His work has profoundly deepened our insight into the development of ancient civilisations and contributed to the preservation of the world's cultural heritage.

Prof. Dr Igor Klep, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies is awarded the Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in algebra and its applications.

Prof. Dr Igor Klep is one of the most incisive and internationally renowned Slovenian mathematicians, especially in the application of algebra to quantum physics, functional analysis and computational mathematics. He has solved one of the key problems in matrix theory, which had remained unsolved for almost 40 years, and together with his colleagues he has proved important properties of matrix bundles, opening up new areas of research in algebra. His work also includes the application of mathematical theories to quantum physics, where he and his colleagues have contributed to a better understanding of quantum networks. 

Prof. Dr Tomaž Katrašnik, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is awarded the Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in simulation models and diagnostic methods for electromobility.

The group, led by Prof. Dr Tomaž Katrašnik, PhD, develops innovative computational models and diagnostic methods for electromobility. These enable the discovery of new phenomena and the understanding of processes in battery materials, as well as the prediction of their internal states in relation to the impact on battery health and safety. A library of models allows faster and cheaper development of batteries and fuel cells. The transfer of these high-level scientific results to the world's leading companies is having a significant impact on the development of more efficient and safer electric vehicle powertrains.

Prof. Dr Damjana Rozman, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine is awarded the Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in biochemistry, molecular biology and functional genomics.

Prof. Dr Damjana Rozman and her colleagues have developed a new method that facilitates the study of the role and production of cholesterol in complex liver diseases, including liver cancer. She has found that these diseases differ significantly by gender and has thus identified gender-specific treatment options. Her gene expression studies also had a significant impact during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing links between cholesterol-producing molecules and disease severity. The findings are contributing to the better understanding and medical treatment of both sexes.

Dr Matija Gatalo, Associate Prof. Dr Nejc Hodnik, Dr Marjan Bele and Prof. Dr Miran Gaberšček, National Institute of Chemistry and ReCatalyst, are awarded the Puh Prize for outstanding achievements for developing a new method for making fuel cell catalysts.

Dr Matija Gatalo and his colleagues Prof. Dr Nejc Hodnik, Dr Marjan Bele and Prof. Dr Miran Gaberšček have developed a breakthrough method for producing fuel cell catalysts that significantly reduces the need for precious platinum. This will enable the wider and more affordable use of fuel cells in the transport and energy sectors, contributing to reduced CO2 emissions and the transition to a hydrogen economy. The innovation has led to the success of the National Institute of Chemistry’s spin-off company ReCatalyst, which collaborates with market-leading global partners.

Prof. Dr Uroš Potočnik, University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is awarded the Zois Award for important achievements in genome research for personalised medicine.

Through his research, Prof. Dr Uroš Potočnik has made a significant contribution to advancing personalised treatment, particularly for patients with chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. His advanced genomic analyses have led to the discovery of new biomarkers that improve our understanding of how patients respond to biologics. His work is particularly relevant for patients who do not respond to existing drugs, as he has discovered important links between genes and clinical symptoms of disease, as well as new targets for drug development. This has led to the development of more effective treatment methods that improve patients' quality of life.

Prof. Dr Andreja Benčan Golob, Jožef Stefan Institute is awarded the Zois Award for important achievements in the electron microscopy of environmentally friendly ferroelectrics.

Prof. Dr Andreja Benčan Golob’s research has been instrumental in advancing the development of environmentally friendly materials for energy conversion and storage. Her work is helping to reduce the use of environmentally harmful lead in special materials called ferroelectrics. She uses an electron microscope to study the structure of lead-free ferroelectric materials at the atomic level, enabling a better understanding of their properties and improving the performance of devices such as sensors that incorporate these materials.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Lev Vidmar, Jožef Stefan Institute and University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics is awarded the Zois Award for the discovery of new patterns of behaviour in quantum many-body systems.

Associate Prof. Dr Lev Vidmar focuses on fundamental questions in quantum many-body physics. His research has highlighted the behaviour of quantum materials under the influence of anomalies or perturbations. Through his findings, he has challenged the long-established theory of thermal and electrical insulators and developed a new approach to identifying thermal and electrical properties. This opens up new possibilities for storing quantum information, which is crucial, among other things, for the development of efficient and reliable quantum computers.

Associate Prof. Dr Tomaž Grušovnik, University of Primorska, Faculty of Educationis awarded the Zois Award for important achievements in environmental ethics and animal ethics.

Associate Prof. Dr Tomaž Grušovnik investigates human relationship with animals and the environment. His work shows that people are aware of inconvenient truths about environmental problems and the exploitation of animals, but deliberately ignore them. Wilful ignorance makes it difficult to solve these problems. He emphasises that simply providing information is not enough; it is equally important to cultivate a genuine desire to learn about the world. His original thesis has contributed to a better understanding of the public's unresponsiveness to the major environmental challenges facing humanity.

Prof. Dr Mitja Lainščak, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine and General Hospital Murska Sobota is awarded the Zois Award for important achievements in cardiovascular medicine. 

Dr Mitja Lainščak is one of the leading experts in cardiovascular medicine, particularly in the study of heart failure. His research has made an important contribution to improving patient care. He has developed new European guidelines for diagnosis and treatment that are followed by the medical community worldwide. Dr Lainščak has elucidated some of the mechanisms of myocarditis, including the consequences after covid-19 vaccination, and has developed effective rehabilitation strategies focusing on the body composition of patients. His work is important both for clinical practice and for the planning of new research in the field of cardiovascular disease.

Prof. Dr Vito Vitrih, University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, and University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute is awarded the Zois Award for important achievements in numerical mathematics.

Prof. Dr Vito Vitrih's research in numerical mathematics and computer-aided geometric design has contributed significantly to more efficient solutions to engineering challenges and to advances in robotics, computer graphics and animation. His contribution to isogeometric analysis is particularly valuable as it helps improve technological processes and the design of industrial products. By developing new mathematical tools, he strengthens the link between theoretical knowledge and industrial application.

Prof. Dr Kristina Djinović-Carugo, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, France, is awarded the Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia Award for her contribution to the recognition of Slovenia in integrative structural biology.

Prof. Dr Kristina Djinović-Carugo promotes Slovenian science on the international stage through her outstanding achievements in integrative structural biology. As Head of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Grenoble, professor at the University of Vienna and member of prestigious international associations such as the Academia Europaea and the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO), she has made important contributions to the integration of Slovenian and international science in this field. Through her research and teaching in Slovenia and abroad, she has had a significant impact on the development of medical science in molecular and structural biology, while also inspiring new generations of Slovenian scientists.