Statutes for Niels Henrik Abel’s Prize in Mathematics (The Abel Prize)

Adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research on April 11, 2002, with amendments as late as 10 December 2013.

1. The main objective of the Abel Prize is to recognize pioneering scientific achievements in mathematics. The Prize shall also help boost the status of the field of mathematics in society and stimulate children and youth to become interested in mathematics.
   
   
2. The Abel Prize is administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Research. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters shall ensure a broad support for the Prize and associated activities by involving relevant domestic and international players and milieus in the work.
   
   
3. The Abel Prize is financed through the national budget by means of a grant from the Ministry of Education and Research to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. This grant shall be utilised for:
   
   - the award to the prize winner
   - events in connection with the awarding of the prize
   - activities aimed at children and youth
   
   
4. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters reports each year to the Ministry of Education and Research with regard to the use of these funds. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters may organize its work on the Abel Prize in any way they deem appropriate as long as they comply with these statutes.
   
   
5. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters appoints a prize committee (the Abel Committee). This committee shall be composed of five prominent researchers in the field of mathematics.
   
   The committee shall have at least three foreign members. The Abel Committee’s chair is appointed for a term of four years, whereas the other members are appointed for a term of two years and may be reappointed one time. If a member must withdraw before his/her term has expired, a new member will be appointed for the remainder of that term.
   
   The Abel Committee shall propose candidates for the Prize in a recommendation to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
   
   
6. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters selects a prize winner on the basis of the recommendation from the Abel Committee.
   
   If the Abel Committee does not find a worthy prize winner in a particular year, the Prize shall not be awarded that year. The funds for the prize winner shall then be returned to the Ministry of Education and Research.
   
   
7. The statutes for Niels Henrik Abel’s Prize in Mathematics may be amended by the Ministry of Education and Research.