ZURICH, January 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jacobs Foundation has initiated the nomination process for this year's Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize. Worth one million Swiss francs, the Research Prize honors the scientific achievements of researchers who make a major contribution to the successful development of children and young people and their prospects around the world. Nominations will be accepted by the Jacobs Foundation until March 15, 2011. Detailed information and nomination applications for the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2011 can be found at http://award.jacobsfoundation.org/call-for-nominations/

Specialist associations and experts working in the area of child and youth research are eligible for nomination. Self nominations cannot be accepted. In June, an international scientific jury will select a prize winner from the pool of nominations submitted whose work represents outstanding scientific achievements in the successful development of children and young people and fulfils strict requirements in terms of scientific excellence, innovative power and social relevance. The prize money of one million Swiss francs will be used to support a scientific research project chosen by the beneficiary.

Beneficiaries of previous Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prizes include Professor Laurence Steinberg (2009) and Professors Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi (2010).

The Zurich-based private Jacobs Foundation was established in 1988 by entrepreneur Klaus J. Jacobs. Ever since, the foundation has focused its efforts on the development of children and youth. Today it has many decades of experience in the funding of science and specific intervention programs and their implementation in this field. With its investment of EUR 200 million in the Jacobs University Bremen (2006), it set new standards in the area of private funding.

Contact: Bettina Buomberger Jacobs Foundation Seefeldquai 17 P.O. Box 8034 Zurich, Switzerland E-Mail: bettina.buomberger@jacobsfoundation.org Tel.: +41-44-388-61-05 Mobile: +41-79-552-30-88 Fax: +41-44-388-61-37