Gunnar Randers Research Prize for 2005 is awarded professor Øystein H. Fischer, University of Geneva, Switzerland, for his groundbreaking works in superconductivity. Fischer has through his research shown how new materials can conduct electric currents without resistance at high magnetic fields and investigated how this can take place.

Superconductivity has already major applications in medicine, electronics and for extremely sensitive sensors and may in the future become very important within the energy- and transportation sector.

Gunnar Randers Research Prize was established in 2001 and is awarded every second year in recognition of work in the area of physics of condensed matter, specifically work leading to advances in basic knowledge, innovation or technological breakthrough.

The amount of the award is NOK 100,000. -, a work of art and a diploma.

The Research Prize will be handed out at IFE in Kjeller in connection with an arrangement April 8, 2005.

This is the third time IFE awards its Gunnar Randers Research Prize. Previous winners are professor Thomas Ebbesen, University of Strasbourg (2001) and professor Amnon Aharony, Tel Aviv University (2003).