Regeneron(US:REGN) Globenewswire·2026-01-21 17:00Core Insights - The Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026 has announced its top 40 finalists, showcasing exceptional young scientists and their innovative research projects [1][3][6] - This year marks the 85th anniversary of the competition, which has a legacy of producing notable alumni, including 13 Nobel laureates and 23 MacArthur Fellows [3][10] - The finalists represent 35 schools across 15 states and are competing for over $1.8 million in awards, with the top prize being $250,000 [6][11] Competition Overview - The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors in the U.S., established in 1942 [9][10] - Each year, over 2,000 students submit original research, which is evaluated by leading experts [9] - The competition aims to identify and inspire promising young scientists who are addressing significant global challenges through rigorous research [9] Finalist Details - The finalists' research projects span 16 categories, with the top four categories being Computer Science, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Mathematics, and Medicine and Health [7][6] - The finalists were selected from a pool of 300 top scholars out of more than 2,600 entrants based on the originality and creativity of their research [6][11] Event Timeline - The finalists will participate in a week-long competition from March 5-11, 2026, culminating in an awards ceremony on March 10, 2026, which will be streamed live [6][8] - A public exhibition of the finalists' projects is scheduled for March 8, 2026 [8] Regeneron's Role - Regeneron has been a sponsor of the Science Talent Search since 2017, committing $100 million over ten years to support the competition and encourage careers in STEM [11][15] - The company has significantly increased the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually, enhancing the top award and providing additional funding for schools [11]