Background and Objectives

Originally awarded only once during ISOCARP’s 50th anniversary, this award is being reintroduced in 2025 to mark the society’s 60th anniversary.

The Sam van Embden Award is a prestigious recognition established by ISOCARP to honour exceptional contributions to the field of urban and regional planning.

Named after Sam van Embden, one of ISOCARP’s founding figures and an influential planner known for his visionary work, the award highlights individuals, institutions, and cities that demonstrate excellence, leadership, and lasting impact in the planning profession.

Through this award, ISOCARP acknowledges those who exemplify integrity, innovation, and a commitment to creating better urban environments.

To Whom?

This Award will be given to people, not necessarily members, who gave a huge contribution to the discipline, to the sustainable development of space or place during the last decades. This award can result in a better knowledge of our discipline and our organisation.

Categories

The Sam van Embden Award is presented in three distinct categories:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award
    Honouring an individual for their enduring influence and distinguished career in planning—either as a practitioner or academic.

  • Organizational Excellence Award
    Recognizing the outstanding work of an organization—public, private, academic, or NGO—in advancing planning practices and outcomes.

  • Urban Leadership Award
    Celebrating cities or regions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement in urban or regional planning.

Who is eligible?

  • Lifetime Achievement Award
    A (living) person active in the world of planning, either as a practitioner or academic.
  • Organizational Excellence Award
    A public or private sector organization, including universities, consultants, and NGOs.
  • Urban Leadership Award
    A city or region demonstrating outstanding planning excellence.

Evaluation criteria

Criteria will be activities related to “Knowledge for better Cities”:

  • The improvement of the living conditions of people
  • The initiation of ‘change, innovation, new visions and concepts’, innovative actions/events
  • Extraordinary publications/plans/projects/research
  • The creation of a great public interest
  • The importance/influence of an activity.

Jury

The ISOCARP 60 Celebration Committe and Board Director of Awards will propose a shortlist for the Board to decide on. Please send your proposals to awards@isocarp.org with the title “SvE Award candidate” by August 31st.

Registration Fee

This is an honorary award. No registration fee is required.

Substance of the Award

One winner will be selected by the jury for each category. Each winner will receive complimentary admission to the congress and an official ISOCARP award certificate. 

Application Procedure

Members and Institutional members can nominate candidates. For further information please contact Dr. Tijana Tufek Memisevic, ISOCARP Awards and Publication Director, at (tmemisevic@isocarp.org), or reach out to awards@isocarp.org.

Please send your proposal to tmemisevic@isocarp.org (copy to awards@isocarp.org).

Deadline for nomination

 Closed