The award ceremony for the 41st International Prize for Biology, a prestigious global award, was held in Tokyo on 20 and 21 December 2025. This year, the prize was dedicated to the field of neuroscience and was awarded to Giacomo Rizzolatti, Professor Emeritus at the University of Parma and a Fellow of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, for his groundbreaking contributions to biological research.
The committee honoured Professor Rizzolatti for his discovery of mirror neurons, an achievement that led to a paradigm shift in neuroscience. His research revealed that the brain has a biological system for understanding the actions and intentions of others through a process of motor “mirroring.” This discovery has provided new insights into empathy, social interactions, and related areas of cognitive psychology.
The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, along with various representatives from Japanese scientific institutions. Among those present were Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Minister Yohei Matsumoto, and Nobel Prize laureate Ryoji Noyori. The award includes a medal and a prize of 10 million yen.
The Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei congratulates Professor Rizzolatti on this distinguished achievement, reaffirming the global importance of Italian research in the scientific community.