The first Anton Paar Research Prize for Instrumental Analysis and Characterization has been granted. The prize money of €20,000 will be divided between two projects that are outstanding both scientifically and in their metrological implementation. Robin Ras and Zhou Quan from Aalto University in Finland convinced the jury with their project for locally resolved measurement of the wettability of surfaces. Johannes Waclawek and Bernhard Lendl from the Technical University of Vienna were awarded for a compact, high-resolution trace gas sensor. A total of 69 projects from 19 countries were submitted for Anton Paar’s first research prize.