The Paris prize competition was a well-known event run by the Paris Academy. Scholars from across Europe would respond to the proposed research topic, with a substantial prize awarded to the chosen winner. Initially an annual challenge, budget difficulties later forced the Academy to offer the challenge only every two years; by the time of the Academy's dissolution in 1793, the competition was largely defunct.

Submissions that were considered to be of the best quality and insight were published by the Paris Academy. Fifteen of Euler's pieces for the Paris prize competition were published between 1727 and 1772; these are listed below.