Inspiring Innovation
Celebrating Research,Discovery & Clinical Progress
Honouring the Best inOrthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Several awards will be given during the next ESSKA Congress in Prague in May 2026. There are three categories:
- ESSKA Special Awards
- ESSKA Journals Awards
- ESSKA Scientific Awards
Deadlines for application and eligibility criteria are indicated for each award below. A jury will review all submitted abstracts and nominations and select the award winners. The winners will be notified by Spring 2026 and must be present during the 2026 Congress in Prague to accept the award. Information on timings and the location of the ceremony will be sent to all winners.
Your Enquiries
If you have any questions regarding your submission, please contact:
- esska-scientific@kit-group.org - General Enquiries
- jeo@esska.org - ournals Awards
- kssta@esska.org - ournals Awards
ESSKA Special Awards
The Special Awards recognise excellence and innovation in arthroscopy, knee surgery, and sports traumatology. They highlight the contributions of emerging researchers and encourage new ideas that advance clinical practice and scientific progress.
Sponsor
The City of Porto
The Award
This award is given to stimulate research in arthroscopy and encourage practitioners to publicise their expertise. It recognises the excellence and innovation in arthroscopy.
Eligibility
Open to anyone
Application
Via the official Abstracts Submission Platform
Deadline
September 2025
Award Value
EUR 1,000
Sponsor
Bruderholz Knee Research Group, University Clinic for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Baselland
The Award
The Bruderholz Award recognises innovation and scientific excellence in the treatment of degenerative knee conditions, with a focus on osteotomy and knee arthroplasty. It honours the legacy of the Basel school of knee surgery, founded by Professor Werner Müller, former Head of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Bruderholz Hospital. This award is dedicated to advancing the next generation of care by promoting research into novel and emerging approaches—such as personalised medicine, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other enabling technologies—that have the potential to transform surgical outcomes and patient care.
Eligibility
Open to anyone
Application
Via the ESSKA Abstract Submission System
Deadline
September 2025
Award Value
EUR 1,000
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given to the best paper about Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology or Arthroscopy.
Eligibility
Entrants must be under 40 years of age before submission
Application
via the official Abstract Submission Platform
Deadline
September 2025
Award Value
EUR 1,000
Sponsor
ESSKA | Orthoregeneration Network
The Award
Applicants must attend the ESSKA Congress and provide input for a new term in the ON Glossary or publish two social media posts tagging ON Foundation and ESSKA on two different social media channels of their choice (including picture or video). Click here for ON Glossary
Eligibility
Open to anyone under 40. Must have a strong interest in orthoregeneration. Must not have received similar ON support within the last 18 months
Deadline
November 2025
Award Value
10x Scolarships of EUR 500 to cover travel expenses/registration to attend the Congress
ESSKA Journals Awards
The Journals Awards honour the best papers published in ESSKA’s official journals. These awards celebrate outstanding research in both clinical and basic science, showcasing work that drives knowledge forward and strengthens the link between science and practice.
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given for the best paper published in the KSSTA Journal, one award for each of the 2 years prior to the Congress. The winners will be selected by the editors of the KSSTA Journal.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
EUR 500 each
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given for the best paper published for systematic reviews / meta analysis in the KSSTA Journal during the two years prior to the Congress. The winner will be selected by the editors of the KSSTA journal.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
EUR 500
Sponsor
ESSKA Congress 2026
The Award
The Editor-in-Chief selects the winner based on the number and quality of reviews performed, response to invitation and submission efficiency.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
Free ESSKA Congress registration and a diploma
Sponsor
ESSKA Congress 2026
The Award
The Editor-in-Chief selects the winner based on the number and quality of reviews performed, response to invitation and submission efficiency.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
Free ESSKA Congress registration and a diploma
Sponsor
ESSKA Congress 2026
The Award
These awards are given to the best author who has published in JEO, with one award for each of the two years prior to the Congress. A jury of Editorial Board members will shortlist and select the winner using an independent scoring system.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
EUR 500 each
Sponsor
ESSKA Congress 2026
The Award
The Editor-in-Chief selects the winner based on the number and quality of reviews performed, response to invitation and submission efficiency.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
Free ESSKA Congress registration and a diploma
Sponsor
ESSKA Congress 2026
The Award
The Editor-in-Chief selects the winner based on the number and quality of reviews performed, response to invitation and submission efficiency.
Eligibility
No application is necessary
Award Value
Free ESSKA Congress registration and a diploma
ESSKA Scientific Awards
The Scientific Awards reflect broader achievements in research and scientific contributions across ESSKA’s fields of interest. They acknowledge impactful studies and discoveries that support the society’s mission of advancing excellence in orthopaedics and sports medicine.
**The deadline for submission of abstracts is September 2025. Abstract submissions for the following awards are through the official Abstracts Submission Platform.**
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given for the best scientific presentation amongst the six highest ranked abstracts from the review process.
Award Value
EUR 1,500 and additionally, the winning paper will be published in KSSTA
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given to the best posters accepted and displayed at the Congress.
The 10 categories are: Ankle, Basic Science, Elbow/Wrist, Hip/Groin, Knee, Knee Degenerative, Knee Ligaments, Sports Medicine, Shoulder and Shoulder Degenerative.
Award Value
EUR 250 each in 10 different categories
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
ESSKA supports Basic Scientists and provides financial support for four selected Basic Scientists, enabling them to attend the 22nd ESSKA Congress. Selection will be made by the Basic Science Committee of ESSKA based on the excellence of the basic science abstracts.
Award Value
EUR 500 to cover travel and accommodation expenses to attend the Congress
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given to the top reviewer of the abstracts submitted to the Prague Congress.
Award Value
Free ESSKA Congress registration
Sponsor
ESSKA
The Award
This award is given to the best abstract submitted in the category AI/Technological/Engineering Innovation.
Application
Via the official Abstract Submission Platform
Award Value
EUR 500
Sponsor
ESSKA | Orthoregeneration Network
The Award
This award is presented to the highest-scoring abstract in Orthoregeneration, as determined by a selected jury. The jury will first choose the top four abstracts, whose authors will be invited to present in a special session during the Congress. Based on these presentations, the jury will then select the final award winner.
Award Value
EUR 2,000