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The Hugo Junkers Award for Research and Innovation from Saxony-Anhalt is presented in four equally ranked categories and, with a total prize fund of €80,000, is the most highly endowed research and innovation award in Saxony-Anhalt.
The award honors and supports individuals, entrepreneurs, and researchers from universities and research institutions across the state.
Choose one of the four award categories and secure not only attractive prize money, but also the visibility your project deserves!
Prize money per category
1st place: €10,000 | 2nd place: €7,000 | 3rd place: €3,000
Most Innovative
Basic Research Projects
This category seeks outstanding basic research projects from science, industry, and skilled trades based in Saxony-Anhalt. Applicants must demonstrate both the topical relevance and the scientific advancement of their findings. Ideally, there should already be initial ideas for potential commercial application.
Eligible to apply are not only individual institutions, but also collaborations, alliances, and consortia from academia, industry, and/or the skilled trades.
Most Innovative
Applied Research Projects
This category targets innovative applied research projects from science, industry, and skilled trades in Saxony-Anhalt. Eligible projects must present representative research results — such as a prototype, clinical study, or similar — and demonstrate a clear potential for regional economic impact.
The development should enable the creation of new products, services, business models, or jobs within the region. This potential must be supported by market analyses and/or concrete plans for market introduction.
Applications are open to individual institutions as well as to collaborations, alliances, and consortia from academia, industry, and/or the skilled trades.
Most Innovative
Products, Services & Business Models
This category seeks creative products, innovative services, and/or new business models originating from science, industry, or the skilled trades in Saxony-Anhalt. The submitted project must offer a unique customer benefit and/or demonstrably improve existing solutions.
The product, service, or business model must already be available on the market or be in the process of being launched. Market demand should be substantiated through verifiable market research — such as industry analyses, customer surveys, or representative third-party studies.
Eligible applicants include individual institutions as well as collaborations, alliances, and consortia from academia, industry, and/or the skilled trades.
Special Award: Most Innovative
Projects for Climate Change Adaptation
This category honors innovative products and services developed by companies and institutions that implement forward-looking approaches to help the economy, the environment, and society adapt to a changing climate in the years ahead.
We are looking for impactful ideas, insights, and initiatives that contribute to building climate resilience through science, innovation, and practical application.
Call for Applications
All key information about the competition – including categories, prize money, and evaluation criteria – can be found here.