The 2024 Science and Technology Week in Slovakia, which featured hundreds of events from 11–17 November, concluded with the prestigious Science and Technology Awards ceremony. The gala, held on 15 November in the Winter Riding Hall of Bratislava Castle, recognised eight individuals and one research team that highlighted the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinarity in science and research. Among the awardees were exceptional young talents as well as renowned scientists respected both at home and abroad.  

The Science and Technology Awards, established in 2014, are presented annually by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic (MŠVaŠ SR). The event itself is organized under the auspices of the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR). This year’s ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education, Tomáš Drucker, as well as the Director General of CVTI SR, Róbert Gálik, members of the evaluation committee, representatives of academia, organizations involved in science and technology, the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and other partners and distinguished guests.  

In his opening remarks, Minister Tomáš Drucker expressed heartfelt gratitude and respect for the honored scientists, highlighting their vital contributions to tackling global challenges. He underscored that the Science and Technology Awards are not just a recognition of exceptional accomplishments but also an inspiring beacon for the next generation of researchers. CVTI SR Director General Róbert Gálik echoed this sentiment, stating: “Our aim is to show that the meaningful work of scientists extends far beyond laboratories and research institutions and has a tangible impact on the world we live in.”  

The awards were presented in five categories. An evaluation committee comprising representatives from government bodies, universities, research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders selected nine laureates from a pool of nominations.  

Awarded Personalities in Each Category:  

Personality in Science and Technology – honoring renowned experts who contribute to significant advancements:  

• Prof. Mgr. Ivan Cimrák, Dr. – Department of Software Technologies, Faculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of Žilina, for his contributions to modeling and computer simulations of cancer cells, enabling their separation, and for developing artificial intelligence models in mammography.  
• Prof. Ing. Ľubomír Švorc, DrSc. – Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, for his extensive internationally recognized work in developing sensory materials and green chemistry methods for trace analytes in food, pharmaceutical, and environmental samples.  
• Prof. Elena Marushiakova-Popova – Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, for her internationally acclaimed research in Romani studies and the history of Roma as an ethnic minority in Europe.

Personality in Science and Technology Under 35 – celebrating young talents who have demonstrated exceptional potential early in their careers:  

• RNDr. Radka Gorejová, PhD. – Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, for her outstanding contributions to the preparation and research of biomaterials and fostering international scientific collaboration. 
• Doc. Ing. Martin Pollák, PhD. – Department of Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technologies, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies, Technical University of Košice, for his significant contributions to the advancement of science and technology at the Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies through publications and project activities for researchers under 35.  
• RNDr. Šarlota Kaňuková, PhD. – Research Institute of Plant Production, National Agricultural and Food Centre in Piešťany, for her scientific achievements in plant biotechnology, focusing on cell culture technologies for producing specialized products with potential industrial applications.

Science Popularizer – recognizing individuals who bring scientific knowledge closer to the general public:  

• Doc. Ing. Ján Kráľ, PhD. – Department of Production Systems and Robotics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice, for his efforts in popularizing technical education and science among primary and secondary school students, high school students, and university students.  

Scientific and Technical Team of the Year – honoring teams whose collaborative work achieves extraordinary results with international impact:  

• Research and Development Team for Power Electrical Engineering at EVPÚ, a.s. (Electrotechnical Research and Development Institute) for their research, development, and implementation of a static power converter housed in an energy container capable of transforming EU/US or US/EU power grids.

Lifetime Achievement in Science and Technology – celebrating lifelong contributions to science and technology in Slovakia:  

• Ing. Branislav Hatala, PhD. – VUJE, a.s., Trnava, for his significant contributions to enhancing the safety and reliability of nuclear facilities and advancing nuclear energy. This award is presented in memoriam.  

Discover compelling interviews with all the laureates and with artist Achilleas Sdoukos, the creator of the unique glass design for this year’s award, here.

Published 27.11.2024, slord