Since 1976, through the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, Rolex has supported exceptional individuals who have the courage and conviction to take on major challenges; men and women who have a spirit of enterprise, initiating extraordinary projects that make the world a better place. Created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Oyster, the first waterproof watch and an important milestone in watchmaking, the Rolex Awards foster the values that underpin Rolex: quality, ingenuity, determination and, above all, the enterprising spirit that has driven the company since its beginning. From the start, the Awards were designed to fill a void in corporate philanthropy by supporting exceptional individuals around the world, pioneers who had no or little access to traditional funding and were responding to major challenges with original and innovative projects that advance human knowledge and well-being.
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The support given by Rolex to Award winners has had a catalytic impact and has in many cases transformed lives and communities. It has also stimulated new ways of thinking about common problems in areas as diverse as creating technologies that improved lives, saving endangered ecosystems, protecting the oceans, exploring new frontiers on the planet, or pioneering advances in science and health.
Young Laureates Programme
In 2009 the Rolex Awards introduced the Young Laureates Programme. This programme's goal is to "foster innovation in the next generation". The programme selects 5 young enterprising individuals and provides them with funding and resources for their projects.
Young Laureates
2014
2012
2010
2009
Laureates
2016
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1990
Associate Laureates
2008
2006