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 50,000 €.
The award for Human-Centered Technology is funded by former Executive Board members and institute directors of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and outside sponsors associated with them. This prize is awarded every two years – alternating with the Donors’ Association Prize – to those employees whose research and development work makes a significant contribution to improving people’s quality of life and maintaining their active participation in daily life into old age. The prize of 50,000 euros was awarded on June 10 at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s annual conference in Hannover.
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 € in prize money, the second winner 3000 € and the third 2000 €.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft