Nature Awards and the BCG X AI Science Institute celebrate the first AI for Discovery winners

From discovering hidden molecules to forecasting disease outbreaks: Boston Consulting Group and Nature Awards announce first AI for Discovery winners.

London | Boston, 06 November 2026

Four researchers pioneering new ways to use AI across health, sustainability and manufacturing have been named the first winners of the AI for Discovery Award during a ceremony in London. Launched by Nature Awards in partnership with Boston Consulting Group's BCG X AI Science Institute, this global award provides a platform to recognise researchers who are using AI responsibly to advance solutions to today's global societal challenges.

The 2026 winners are:

• Michael Skinnider, Princeton University | Health & Life Sciences, whose research uses AI to identify previously unknown molecules in the human body, with the potential to reveal new markers of disease and targets for future treatments.
• Kevin Jablonka, Friedrich Schiller University Jena | Energy, Environment & Agriculture, who uses AI to bring together experimental results and scientific literature, helping researchers navigate complex chemical and materials data and support new discoveries.
• Yang Chai, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Industry, Infrastructure & Manufacturing, who is developing sensors that can process information using AI directly within the device, enabling faster and more efficient real-time sensing.
• Houriiyah Tegally, CERI / Stellenbosch University | Health & Life Sciences, who uses AI alongside genomic, epidemiological and climate data to improve how infectious diseases are monitored and outbreaks forecast.

Together, the winners demonstrate how AI and machine learning are being applied in innovative ways across scientific disciplines. Across fields ranging from health and disease to materials and sensing, the winners highlight how these technologies can accelerate scientific discovery and help tackle real-world challenges.

Speaking of the awards, Harsh Jegadeesan, Chief Publishing Officer at Springer Nature and Chair of the judging panel said:

"These four researchers demonstrate how AI can support scientific discovery when used responsibly. Their work across health, sustainability and manufacturing highlights the breadth of possibilities these technologies are opening for discovery, with the potential to accelerate research and deliver real-world impact. We are delighted to recognise their achievements and support the next stage of their work."

Adi Zolotov, Managing Director and Partner, and Global Leader of the BCG X AI Science Institute explained, "the most exciting breakthroughs happen when exceptional scientific minds are equipped with entirely new capabilities. These four researchers demonstrate what becomes possible when deep scientific expertise meets the power of AI. Through this award, we want to recognize the pioneers who are redefining scientific discovery and help them take their ideas even further. Their work offers a glimpse into the future of science."

Each of the four winners will receive a US$10,000 development grant to support the next phase of their research, alongside bespoke virtual training delivered by BCG X AI Science Institute experts.

The award builds on Nature Awards' work to celebrate scientific excellence and amplify the real-world impact of research. Its launch also reflects Springer Nature's commitment to supporting the global research community as it explores how AI can responsibly accelerate discovery, strengthen collaboration, and advance knowledge.

For more information on the winners and their research, visit the Nature Awards AI for Discovery website.

About BCG X AI Science Institute

The BCG X AI Science Institute brings advanced AI to research, discovery, and innovation. Working with academics, industry experts, and leading R&D teams, the Institute combines AI capabilities with scientific and industry expertise to address complex challenges across fields including materials science, drug discovery, earth observation, and climate.

About BCG X

BCG X is the tech build & design unit of BCG.

Turbocharging BCG's deep industry and functional expertise, BCG X brings together advanced tech knowledge and ambitious entrepreneurship to help organizations enable innovation at scale.

With nearly 3,000 technologists, scientists, programmers, engineers, and human-centered designers located across 80+ cities, BCG X builds and designs platforms and softwaare to address the world's most important challenges and opportunities, teaming across our practices, and in close collaboration with our clients, our end-to-end global team unlocks new possibilities.

Toegther we're creating the bold and disruptive products, services, and businesses of tomorrow.

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group bridges the gap between ambition and outcomes for the world's leading companies and organizations. We are built for this era of unprecedented change-bringing strategic clarity rooted in over 60 years of deep domain knowledge, combined with applied AI shaped by our practitioners. BCG works shoulder-to-shoulder with CEOs across industries and geographies to deliver transformative impact at scale: stronger returns, transferred capabilities, and change that sticks. For more information, visit BCG.com.

About Nature Portfolio

Nature Portfolio's high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences help move science and society forward.

Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature - founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with content, including news and comment from the Nature journal, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio. 

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.

Contact

Daniela Kaltenborn | External Communications | Springer Nature

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