State Research Award

Since 1989, the Academy has been awarding the State Research Award in collaboration with the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts (external link).

This award recognizes the scientific achievements of outstanding researchers from a wide variety of disciplines. Since 1999, the State Research Award (external link) has been divided into two research categories. One award is given for outstanding basic research, and the other for excellent applied research. Previous recipients come from a wide variety of fields—from biology to public finance, from paleoanthropology to research on artificial intelligence.

With a total prize fund of 200,000 euros, the State Research Award is the most highly endowed state award in Germany. Each research category is endowed with 100,000 euros.

The Award Recipients

Year	Recipients
2026	Prof. Dr. Irena Kogan, Universität Mannheim, Mannheimer Zentrum für Europäische Sozialforschung Prof. Dr. Largus Angenent, Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät der Universität Tübingen Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg
2024	Prof. Dr. Christiane Werner, Institut für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Freiburg Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lena Maier-Hein, DKFZ Heidelberg, Abteilung „Intelligente Medizinische Systeme“
2022	Prof. Dr. Anke-Susanne Müller, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie Prof. Dr. Stefan Pfister, Kindertumorzentrum Heidelberg
2020	Prof. Dr. Anna Köttgen, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Rammensee, Universität Tübingen
2018	Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schölkopf, Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme Prof. Dr. Andreas Trumpp, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg
2016	Prof. Dr. Fedor Jelezko, Universität Ulm Dr. Georg Gdynia, Universität Heidelberg
2014	Prof. Dr.- Ing. Christian Koos, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie Prof. Dr. Katerina Harvati-Papatheodorou, Universität Tübingen
2011	Prof. Dr. Peter Sanders, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie Prof. Dr. Peter Auer, Universität Freiburg
2010	Prof. Dr. Detlef Weigel, Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie Tübingen Prof. Dr. Rupert Handgretinger, Universität Tübingen
2009	Prof. Dr. Joachim Burghartz, Universität Stuttgart Prof. Dr. Jörn Leonhard, Universität Freiburg
2008	Prof. Dr. Jürg Leuthold, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Pfanner, Universität Freiburg Prof. Dr. Wolfram Pyta, Universität Stuttgart
2007	Prof. Dr. Britta Nestler, Hochschule Karlsruhe Prof. Dr. Markus Oberthaler, Universität Heidelberg
2006	Prof. Dr. Dieter H. Wolf, Universität Stuttgart Dr. Martin Walther Dr. Robert Rehm Joachim Fleissner Dr. Johannes Schmitz
2005	Prof. Dr. Rolf Stürner, Universität Freiburg Prof. Klaus Martin Wegener, KIT und Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe
2004	Prof. Dr. Herta Flor, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim Prof. Dr. Josef Wieland, Hochschule Konstanz
2003	Dr. Eva Schlecht, Universität Hohenheim Prof. Dr. Martin Dressel, Universität Stuttgart
2002	Forschergruppe des Fraunhofer Institut für angewandte Festkörperphysik in Freiburg Dr. Márc Kelemen Dr. Rudolf Kiefer Dr. Michael Mikulla Dr. Martin Walther Prof. Dr. Doris Wedlich, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
2001	Prof. Dr. Monika Fludernik, Universität Freiburg Prof. Dr. Christof Niehrs, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg
2000	Prof. Dr. Thomas Schimmel, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie Prof. Dr. Michael Frotscher, Universität Freiburg Prof. Dr. Angelos Chaniotis, Universität Heidelberg
1999	Prof. Dr. Eberhard P. Hofer und Dr. Christian Rembe, Universität Ulm Prof. Dr. Reinhart Ahlrichs, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
1998	Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bühler, Universität Mannheim
1996	PD Dr. Regine Hengge-Aronis, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Konstanz, jetzt: Freie Universität Berlin
1995	Prof. Dr. Peter Herrlich, Forschungszentrum Technik und Umwelt, Karlsruhe Prof. Dr. Margot Zöller, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg
1994	Prof. Dr. Willi Jäger, Universität Heidelberg
1993	Prof. Dr. Ina Rösing, Universitätsklinikum Ulm Prof. Dr. Dietmar Vestweber, Universität Münster
1992	Forschergruppe der Universität Stuttgart, Verfahrenstechnik: Prof. Dr.-Ing. E.D. Gilles Prof. Dr.-Ing. G. Eigenberger Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.G. Fritz Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Reuß Prof. Dr.-Ing. K. Stephan Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Zeitz
1991	Prof. Dr. Bert Sakmann, Max-Planck-Institut, Heidelberg
1990	Prof. Wolfgang Raible, Universität Heidelberg, jetzt: Universität Freiburg
1989	Prof. Erik Jayme, Universität Heidelberg

The Donor

Since 1989, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities has been awarding the State Research Prize in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts (external link). Since 1999, the award has been divided into two categories. Since then, half of the award money has been allocated to basic research and the other half to applied research.

In 2016, the award program was expanded to include the Prize for Courageous Science (internal link)—a prize that is unique in Germany—which is announced and awarded jointly with the State Research Prize.

The Award Ceremony

The State Research Award was awarded annually, almost without exception, until 2011. This was followed by a restructuring, as a result of which the award could not be awarded again until 2014. Since then, the State Research Prize has been awarded annually, alternating with the State Teaching Prize (external link).

Potential candidates are nominated by the state’s scientific institutions. An interdisciplinary jury consisting of renowned scientists and the presidents of the Max Planck Society and the German Research Foundation decides on the award. The Academy chairs the jury.

The award may be awarded to multiple individuals simultaneously.

Contact

The award is sponsored by the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts in Baden-Württemberg (external link) in collaboration with the Academy.

The Academy’s Managing Director is responsible for the award and can be reached at gf@hadw-bw.de.