MIT Technology Review details selection process for 2026 Innovators Under 35
The 2026 honourees will be announced on September 8, selected from 550 nominations by a panel of 44 expert judges.
MIT Technology Review has outlined the rigorous methodology underpinning its 2026 Innovators Under 35 list, which recognises 35 young scientists and engineers for groundbreaking work and technical innovation. The publication received 550 nominations from around the world, a pool from which editors selected 110 semifinalists.
The selection process spanned several months, involving both staff and public nominations. Semifinalists were required to submit applications including reference letters, videos, and résumés. Forty-four expert judges, including former honourees, evaluated these applications to determine the final winners.
The 35 selected innovators are distributed across four categories: biotechnology, artificial intelligence, computing and robotics, and climate and energy. Editors reviewed the judges’ scores and comments to finalise the list, aiming to highlight early-career researchers who are making clear progress toward solving big problems or answering pressing scientific questions.
Costa Samaras, director of Carnegie Mellon’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, served as a judge for the 2026 list. Samaras described the selected individuals as representing some of the best aspects of science and technology research, noting their focus on pushing forward bold ideas to improve the future for everyone.
The Innovators Under 35 list was first published in 1999 and has become an annual tradition alongside other MIT Technology Review recognitions. Past honourees include Lisa Su, who led the turnaround of AMD, and Daniel Ek, co-founder of Spotify. The full 2026 list will be published to subscribers on September 8 and in the September/October magazine issue.
Nominations for the 2027 competition are scheduled to open by early December. The publication continues to use the exercise to identify rising talent and provide readers with insight into the advances expected in the years to come.
