Grants & Awards
Promoting research on the connection between oral and general health for over 30 years
The Sunstar Foundation supports the development of young researchers involved in dental and medical fields investigating the suspected relationships of diseases such as diabetes and periodontal disease.
Our Awards for Oral Care Professionals
World Dental Hygienist Awards
Recognizing dental professionals that are leading the way in oral hygiene
Award of Distinction: Dental Hygienists Europe
Celebrating dental hygienists who elevate oral health across Europe
World Perio Research Awards
Recognizing research on the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic health
Explore the Awards Gallery: Two Decades of Recognition and Inspiration
Step into the world of oral health excellence and discover the people behind the progress. The Awards Gallery is your window into nearly 20 years of global celebrations featuring past winners, memorable ceremonies, and the stories that continue to shape dentistry.
A trophy as meaningful as the award itself
When the first Sunstar Foundation Award was presented in 2003, the Foundation Chairman, Hiroo Kaneda, envisioned a trophy as meaningful as the award itself. Mr. Kaneda commissioned the famous Italian architect, Mario Bellini to materialize this vision. Bellini's artistic contributions to society include Olivetti's typewriter and calculators, now found at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and his latest architectural work is found at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
At the base of the trophy, is the following inscription in Italian: "Nell'albero infinito della ricerca scientifica è racchiuso il mistero dell'evoluzione dell'umanità." Translated in English, it means: "The mystery of human evolution is enclosed within the infinite tree of scientific research."
When viewed from the front, the trophy is shaped like the symbol for infinity and infers a quantity without bound or end. The "S" shape of the symbol is also meant to embody science and the Sunstar company. It is a fitting tribute to the Sunstar Foundation Award recipients.
