About the Kyoto Prize at Oxford

Kyoto Prize at Oxford

The Kyoto Prize is an international award, organised by the Inamori Foundation, to honour those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of humankind. The Blavatnik School of Government is honoured to bring the Kyoto Prize Laureates to Oxford for a series of events each May.

The driving vision for the Kyoto Prize at Oxford is that the Inamori Foundation and Blavatnik School of Government find a shared purpose in inspiring, educating and connecting individuals who strive for the greater good of humankind and society.

The approaches are distinctively different, and yet share many key values: a dedication to international understanding; a passion for the pursuit of knowledge in the service of public good; and a commitment to the future of our global society.

Kyoto Prize at Oxford 2021

The 2021 Kyoto Prize at Oxford took place online on 11–12 May. The sessions are now available to watch on the Blavatnik School of Government YouTube channel.

The events

The events at the Blavatnik School of Government unite the Kyoto Prize Laureates with global thought leaders and major influencers in the field, and immerse them in specially tailored sessions which utilise the Laureates' expertise.

The Kyoto Prize at Oxford is the final event of the Laureates' year, following the award presentation in Kyoto, and the Kyoto Prize Symposium in San Diego.

The events also bring together the Oxford academic, and wider, community, as we aim to highlight the impact of the Laureates on a number of levels and with different audiences:

  • As global leaders in their fields: celebrating their intellectual and creative achievements with their academic peers from Oxford, the United Kingdom and Europe.
  • As outstanding human beings: understanding more clearly the qualities that have enabled them to have such remarkable impact and the beliefs that have motivated them to make such a positive contribution  to society.
  • As generators and communicators of ideas: introducing them to new generations who can be inspired by their achievements and values.
Blavatnik School of Government
Blavatnik School of Government

Images by John Cairns