Autonomous Agents Research Award:
ACM SIGART, in collaboration with the International Conference on Autonomous Agents, instituted an annual award in 2001 for excellence in research in the area of autonomous agents. The award is intended to recognize researchers whose current work is an important influence on the field. The award is an official ACM award, funded by an endowment created by ACM SIGART from the proceeds of previous Autonomous Agents conferences.

• Tuomas Sandholm, 2001 (Inaugural Award)
  ...he has conducted an intensive research program in electronic markets and multi-agent systems, and has also done work in other areas of autonomous agents. The breadth and depth of his contributions over a relatively short period of time are impressive...