The Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund - Guidelines

The Fund

  1. The Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund (Niels Henrik Abels minnefond) was established on 1 January 2002, ref. Proposition No. 1 (2001-2002) to the Storting and Budget Proposal S. No.12 (2001-2002).

  2. The main object of establishing the Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund is to award an international prize for outstanding scientific work in the field of mathematics. The prize shall contribute towards raising the status of mathematics in society and stimulating the interest of children and young people in mathematics.

  3. The Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund is administered by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. On its establishment the Fund had an initial capital of NOK 200 million. The annual return on this capital is allocated to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters which is responsible for the award to the Abel laureate and for other uses of the funds (see Item 5).

  4. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters appoints a board of trustees and a committee of mathematicians for the Abel Prize. The Abel Board shall have the responsibility for allocating the return on capital and for events in conjunction with the presentation of the prize. The Abel Committee is responsible for nominating and recommending candidates for the Abel Prize.

  5. The return on capital shall be used for:

    • the award to the Abel laureate
    • events in conjunction with the presentation of the prize
    • events targeting children and young people

The Abel Board

  1. The Board for the Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund shall consist of five persons appointed by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters as proposed by:

    • The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (2 persons)
    • The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters (1 person)
    • The Norwegian Council for Higher Education (1 person)
    • The University of Oslo (1 person)

    At least one member of the Board shall have connections with working life/business and industry.

  2. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters appoints the chairman of the Abel Board. The Board is appointed for a period of four years and can be reappointed once. In the case of Board members who are appointed at the suggestion of public institutions, the government regulations regarding gender representation will apply.

  3. The Abel Board is responsible for organizing events in conjunction with the presentation of the prize and for achieving the other objects (see Item 5). Each year the Board draws up a budget and a plan for the use of the funds. The budget shall be approved by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Nomination and selection of Abel laureates

  1. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters appoints an Abel Committee. The Abel Committee consists of five persons, who are outstanding research scientists in the field of mathematics. Both Norwegian and non-Norwegian citizens may be members of the committee.

    The members of the Abel Committee are appointed for a period of two years and may be reappointed once.

  2. The Abel Committee shall:

    • nominate candidates for the Abel Prize
    • submit a recommendation to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

  3. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters selects the Abel laureate on the basis of the recommendation from the Abel Committee.

Administration

  1. The Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund is not an independent institution and it is not a separate legal body.

  2. The Fund's capital has been invested as an account loan to the Government at a rate of interest equal to the interest on government bonds with a ten-year term.

  3. The previous year's return on the Fund's capital is entered each year as income in the government budget. The amount is transferred to the expense side of the government budget and allocated as a grant to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

  4. In the event that the Committee does not find a worthy laureate one year, it may resolve not to award the prize. In this case, the return on capital shall be added to the Fund's initial capital.

  5. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters administers the allocation in accordance with generally acceptable accounting practice and as instructed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters reports each year to the Ministry of Education and Research on the use of the funds.

Reporting

  1. A description of routines has been drawn up in the Ministry of Education and Research for accounting and practical handling of the Fund's capital.

  2. The Ministry of Education and Research reports each year to the Storting on the use of the Fund's assets.

Amendment of the Guidelines

  1. The guidelines governing the Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund may be amended by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Issued by the Ministry of Education and Research on 11 April 2002.

Trond Fevolden
Secretary General