Idea Puzzle Prize

Idea Puzzle offers an annual prize of 1000 euros to the most coherent doctoral research design created with the Idea Puzzle software in a licensed university. Read the Regulations of the Idea Puzzle Prize and apply until the 31st of October of each year. The winning research design will be announced on UNESCO's World Philosophy Day (third Thursday of November). To date, 16 research designs were awarded in the following doctoral programs:

Linguistics: Xavier, Y. (2025, October). Language attitudes towards non-native speech: The case of employment scenarios in Portugal. Research design supervised by S. Correia at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. (available on World Philosophy Day 2026)

Biomedical Engineering: Lopes, C. (2024, October). Non-invasive computer-assisted knee arthroplasty training supported by multimodal image-guided navigation. Research design supervised by J. Mendes at Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

Computer Science and Technology: Visuña, L. (2023, June). Deep learning for automatic bacilli monitoring in time-lapse microscopy images. Research design supervised by J. Carretero Pérez at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain.

Environment and Sustainability: Palma, P. (2022, June). Exploring energy poverty measurement across the spatial and temporal scales: Insights for multilevel policy-making. Research design supervised by J. Gouveia at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.

Management Science: Kerner, R. (2021, June). Effect of firm's size on export intensity: Evidence from Estonian service traders. Research design supervised by M. Kitsing and N. Prabakaran at Estonian Business School, Estonia.

Electrical, Electronics, and Automation Engineering: Delgado, P. (2020, June). Use of heterogeneous platforms in space applications. Research design supervised by A. Muñoz & J. Rodríguez at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain.

Psychology of Communication and Change: Rodríguez, G. (2019, May). Comunicación emocional y cambio en niños/as con necesidades complejas de comunicación y sus padres. Research design supervised by M. Martín & S. Gelabert at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.

Animal Medicine and Health: Gardela, J. (2018, May). Development of vitrification cryotolerance in bovine oocytes through cold stress. Research design supervised by M. López-Béjar at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.

Veterinary Sciences: Alvites, R. (2018, May). Combined use of olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells and biomaterials in regenerative therapies after peripheral nerve injury. Research design supervised by A. Maurício at Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

Media Research: La Rosa, L. (2017, May). Data journalism in Spain: Politics and public policies that affect its development. Research design supervised by M. Martín at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain.

Public Health: Soares, S. (2017, May). Biological consequences of exposure to social adversity in childhood. Research design supervised by S. Fraga at Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

Global Public Health: Cabral, M. (2016, May). Linking obesity-induced inflammation and metabolic disease: From adolescence to adulthood. Research design supervised by E. Ramos at Universidade do Porto & Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.

Psychology: Gouveia, M. (2015, May). Mindful parenting in pediatric obesity: From parenting practices to children and adolescents psychological adjustment. Research design supervised by H. Moreira, & C. Canavarro at Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.

Psychology: Melo, C. (2014, May). Preservação da fertilidade em mulheres com doença oncológica: Processo de tomada de decisão partilhada com as doentes e adaptação psicológica individual à sobrevivência. Research design supervised by C. Canavarro, & A. Santos at Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.

Information Technologies and Systems: Cardoso, A. (2013, May). A study on the dynamics of civic movements enabled by information and communication technology. Research design supervised by J. Carvalho at Universidade do Minho, Portugal.

Information and Communication in Digital Platforms: Lélis, C. (2012, May). Co-creation of brand artifacts. Research design supervised by O. Mealha at Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal.