Scientific Computing World has served the global research computing community for more than 30 years, connecting research leaders, IT professionals, and technology providers across academia, government, and industry. Building on this foundation, we are proud to launch SCW75 – Leaders in Scientific Computing, an annual recognition programme celebrating the individuals driving innovation at the intersection of computing and research.
The inaugural 2026 list will honour 75 exceptional leaders – 25 in each of three categories – who are actively transforming their organisations through strategic deployment of scientific computing solutions to further their research goals.
Nomination categories
We welcome nominations across three distinct areas of scientific computing excellence:
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Leaders who are championing HPC adoption and expansion – whether cloud-based, on-premise, or hybrid infrastructure – to accelerate research breakthroughs. This includes HPC directors, managers, heads of scientific computing, CIOs, and R&D IT leaders in universities, national laboratories, and commercial research organisations.
Computational Engineering & Simulation
Leaders advancing research through simulation technologies across any discipline – from computational fluid dynamics and structural analysis to climate modelling and molecular simulation. This includes engineering directors, simulation team leads, and research computing managers driving simulation strategies in academic, government, or industry settings.
Laboratory Informatics & Data Management
Leaders building the data infrastructure that powers modern research – implementing laboratory informatics management systems (LIMS), electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), data lakes, and analytics platforms that turn raw data into discoveries. This includes informatics directors, data science leads, and research IT managers in data-intensive research environments across life sciences, materials research, environmental science, and beyond.
Why recognition matters
Being named to the SCW75 list offers significant professional benefits:
- A featured Q&A on Scientific Computing World
- Recognition across our social media channels and industry partner networks
- Official digital badge for email signatures and LinkedIn profiles
- Exclusive invitations to participate in expert panel discussions and virtual roundtables
As the community grows, further opportunities will arise in the form of elite networking, conference speaking slots and site visits.
Recognition in the SCW75 could also help in attracting funding or investment, as it would highlight the calibre of industry-recognised individuals working on research projects.
How to nominate
Go to our nominations page and fill out the brief form
Nominations will open on 1 December, 2025, and close on 27 February, 2026.
Who can nominate?
Anyone can submit a nomination – colleagues, collaborators, direct reports, supervisors, or self-nominations are all welcome. We encourage you to nominate the computing leaders whose work you've witnessed firsthand.
Criteria of success
- Shortlisted nominees will be contacted in early March and invited to complete a more comprehensive form that includes:
- A description of specific computing initiatives led in the past 24 months
- Evidence of measurable impact on research outcomes
- Examples of advocacy work within their organisation
- Any supporting materials: metrics, testimonials, or case study links
Responses will be assessed by our internal editorial panel, led by our COO Mark Elliott and Scientific Computing World editor Robert Roe.
The final SCW75 list will be published in May 2026.
Timeline
- December 1, 2025: Nominations open
- February 27, 2026: Nominations deadline
- March 2026: Evaluation period; shortlisted nominees invited to submit detailed forms
- May 2026: SCW75 list publicly announced on scientific-computing.com and via Scientific Computing World channels
Sponsorship opportunities
Organisations interested in supporting the SCW75 initiative and connecting with this elite community of research computing leaders should contact sales@europascience.com for sponsorship packages and benefits.
