Historical Origin and Continuity
From the Prix Poncelet (1868) to the Leonardo Da Vinci Medal
The Leonardo Da Vinci Medal and the Prix Poncelet are not separate awards, but rather two chapters of the same story—a nearly two-century tradition of recognizing mathematical excellence applied to engineering.
This continuity ensures that the legacy of one of Europe's oldest scientific prizes is preserved and projected into the 21st century with renewed institutional support and academic rigor.
The Prix Poncelet (1868-Present)
Europe's first prize for mathematical engineering
The Prix Poncelet was established in 1868 by the Académie des Sciences de France, making it the first European prize specifically dedicated to rewarding the application of mathematics to engineering.
Named After:
Jean-Victor Poncelet (1788-1867), French mathematician and engineer, pioneer of projective geometry and its applications to mechanics and engineering.
Historical Significance
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Prix Poncelet became synonymous with the highest level of achievement in mathematical engineering. Recipients of this prize were recognized for work that demonstrated:
▸Rigorous application of mathematical principles to engineering problems
▸Development of new mathematical methods for technical applications
▸Advancement of theoretical foundations for engineering practice
▸Contributions that bridged pure mathematics and applied engineering
A Dormant Legacy
Despite its prestigious history, the Prix Poncelet gradually lost institutional momentum in recent decades. While never formally discontinued, the prize lacked the regular administration and contemporary relevance needed to maintain its position as a leading European academic award.
This created both a challenge and an opportunity: how could this historic legacy be preserved while adapting it to the realities and needs of 21st-century European higher education?
Renewal Through the IDEA League
Preserving tradition while embracing the future
The creation of the Leonardo Da Vinci Medal represents a collective academic decision by the five universities of the IDEA League to update, strengthen, and give continuity to the Prix Poncelet tradition.
Why This Framework?
One Prize, Two Names, One Mission
The Leonardo Da Vinci Medal does not replace the Prix Poncelet—it continues it. The complete list of laureates, from 1868 to the present, forms a single, unbroken timeline of excellence in mathematical engineering.
This approach ensures that:
◆The historical prestige of the Prix Poncelet is preserved and honored
◆The award gains renewed institutional support and visibility
◆Future laureates join a legacy spanning nearly two centuries
◆European academic values in engineering education are reinforced
From 1868 to Today
A single tradition of excellence, linking two centuries of mathematical and engineering thought under a modern, interdisciplinary, university-based European framework.
Explore the Complete Timeline
View the full list of laureates from 1868 to the present day
View Laureates Timeline