Launched in 2013, the prize is financed through a permanent endowment of $100 million established by The Genesis Prize Foundation (GPF).

 

The 2020 Genesis Prize Laureate, Jewish leader and activist Natan Sharansky, has chosen to gift the $1 million Genesis prize to 15 Non-Governmental Organizations and institutions in the humanitarian, social, scientific and medical fields working to mitigate the impact of coronavirus and advance recovery. 

 

In addition, Mr. Sharansky has initiated a special competition recognizing Israeli companies working to combat coronavirus and the damage of future pandemics. GPF, assisted by Start-Up Nation Central, will award prizes to Israeli companies that have made significant contributions to fighting COVID-19, or are working on promising technologies, therapies, or vaccines that have the potential to provide significant benefit in the near future.

 

All Israeli companies listed on innovation discovery platform Start-Up Nation Finder, sporting the coronavirus tag, were automatically included in this competition. A distinguished group of judges (names below) shortlisted 21 companies in seven categories. Of these, 10 finalists will be selected by a judging panel comprised of Laureate Natan Sharansky, Start-Up Nation Central CEO Prof. Eugene Kandel, and others. Winners of the competition will be announced at a festive event to be held in December 2020. The winning companies will donate their prize to a worthy NGO of their choice; the process will be led by Matan-United Way.