Fraunhofer Research Awards 2010

In 1920, scientific representatives founded the Stifterverband (Association of Donors) at the recommendation of German academies, universities and scientific institutions. Its reestablishment after World War II is closely tied to the reestablishment of the „Notgemeinschaft der deutschen Wissenschaft" (German Research Association) on January 11, 1949.

As in the past, the Stifterverband today views itself as intermediary between business and science. Under the aegis of the Stifterverbund, a capital volume of 2 billion euros is administered in 450 individual endowments. For the past 8 years, it has bestowed on the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft a prize endowed with 50,000 euros. This award recognizes the scientific excellence of joint projects in applied research that the Fraunhofer institutes have developed in conjunction with business and/or other research organizations (Article 1) This prize and the „Technology for Humanity" prize are awarded each year on an alternating basis.

In 1920, scientific representatives founded the Stifterverband (Association of Donors) at the recommendation of German academies, universities and scientific institutions. Its reestablishment after World War II is closely tied to the reestablishment of the „Notgemeinschaft der deutschen Wissenschaft" (German Research Association) on January 11, 1949.

As in the past, the Stifterverband today views itself as intermediary between business and science. Under the aegis of the Stifterverbund, a capital volume of 2 billion euros is administered in 450 individual endowments. For the past 8 years, it has bestowed on the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft a prize endowed with 50,000 euros. This award recognizes the scientific excellence of joint projects in applied research that the Fraunhofer institutes have developed in conjunction with business and/or other research organizations (Article 1) This prize and the „Technology for Humanity" prize are awarded each year on an alternating basis.

This prize has been awarded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft every year since 1978, in recognition of outstanding scientific work by members of its staff leading to the solution of application-oriented problems. Over 200 researchers have meanwhile seen their work honored in this way. This year, three prizes will be awarded – each valued at 20,000 euros.

The Bavarian government instituted this prize in 1999 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It is named for former Bavarian secretary of state Hugo Geiger – patron of the inaugural assembly of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on March 26 1949. The Hugo Geiger Prize is awarded for outstanding, application-oriented doctoral theses or dissertations – up to now only in the life sciences. From this year on, prizes will also be awarded for papers that cover other research areas of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.  The prizewinning papers are selected on the basis of scientific quality, industrial or economic relevance, novelty and an interdisciplinary approach. The work must be directly related to a Fraunhofer Institute or have been written at one. This year, the first-placed winner  will receive 5000 euros in prize money, the second winner 3000 euros and the third 2000 euros.