#HJP25
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We know that applying for the highest-endowed innovation award requires thorough preparation and takes a lot of time.
Since we have received numerous inquiries regarding the application and the next steps, we want to give all interested parties the necessary time to submit their very best application.

That’s why we have decided to extend the application deadline until June 30, 2025!

This is your chance to bring your groundbreaking ideas into the spotlight: Take advantage of the extended deadline to perfect your application and inspire the world of tomorrow with your innovation!

Who can participate?
Eligible to participate are individuals, founders, entrepreneurs, and scientists from universities and research institutions based in Saxony-Anhalt who have demonstrably developed innovative products, processes, services, and/or business models. The research and development work must have been carried out predominantly in Saxony-Anhalt.
For each category, specific requirements must also be taken into account.

In all categories, it is permissible for cooperation partners outside the state to be or to have been involved in the innovation process. However, the majority of the innovation, research, and/or economic utilization must take place within Saxony-Anhalt.

All information about the "Hugo-Junkers-Award" and participation can be found on this portal.

“Innovation has many faces in Saxony-Anhalt. Groundbreaking ideas can be found all over our state—from science and industry to crafts,” emphasizes Minister of Science Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann. “Anyone who wants to make their groundbreaking development or invention a big success with minimal effort should act now,” he adds. “Smart minds can still apply for the ‘Hugo-Junkers-Award 2025’ until the end of February. This prestigious research award is our showcase for innovations made in Saxony-Anhalt—and it also comes with a total prize fund of 80,000 euros. So applying can pay off twice.”

The award seeks pioneering research projects or creative business ideas in four categories: ranging from basic and applied research to innovative products, services, and business models. Additionally, a special prize will be awarded for particularly innovative projects addressing climate change adaptation.

Applications are open until February 28, 2025, and the award ceremony is planned for late June 2025.

All information about the “Hugo-Junkers-Preis 2025” and how to participate can be found at: www.hugo-junkers-preis.de.  

For the latest updates on topics related to science, energy, climate protection, and the environment, follow the Ministry’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and X (formerly Twitter). 

Great things can emerge from an innovative idea. This was proven more than 100 years ago by aviation pioneer Hugo Junkers from Dessau. Today, many bright minds in Saxony-Anhalt continue to work on forward-looking innovations. To bring their developments into the well-deserved spotlight, they now have the opportunity to apply for the “Hugo-Junkers-Preis 2025.” On Monday, Minister of Science Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann launched the application process for the research award at Solar Materials in Magdeburg. The cleantech startup was successful in the 2023 competition round with an innovative recycling solution for old solar modules.

“Saxony-Anhalt has gained innovative strength in recent years through closer networking between science and industry. With the Hugo-Junkers-Preis, we want to honor those who are improving our state in challenging times with their ideas and developments,” Willingmann explained. “In 2025, we will therefore also award the special prize for the most innovative projects and initiatives aimed at adapting to climate change. We cannot ignore the fact that climate change is also affecting us here in Saxony-Anhalt. Our weather is becoming increasingly extreme, with heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and flooding. We trust in the innovative power of science and industry to make our state future-proof in the face of these challenges.” 

The “Hugo-Junkers-Preis 2025” is endowed with a total of 80,000 euros. Applications are open until February 28, 2025, and the award ceremony is planned for late June 2025. Groundbreaking research projects or creative business ideas are being sought in four categories: ranging from basic and applied research to innovative products, services, and business models. This year’s special prize will focus on the most innovative projects related to climate change adaptation. The winners will be selected by a top-class jury chaired by Prof. Dr. Julia C. Arlinghaus, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF in Magdeburg.

The cleantech startup Solar Materials experienced what it’s like to be in the spotlight at the Hugo-Junkers-Preis last year. The Magdeburg-based company developed a recycling solution for old solar modules and took second place in the special category “Energy and Environmental Research.” “Just three years after its founding, Solar Materials has become the global technology leader and shows that economically viable and sustainable recycling of solar modules is possible,” explained CEO Jan-Philipp Mai. The startup has even bigger plans: “With the goal of transforming the solar industry into a circular economy, we are currently building the first industrial recycling line and will increase our recycling capacity to 10,000 tons or half a million modules per year next year.” Minister Willingmann sees great potential in the Magdeburg-based company: “Solar Materials is a prime example of how innovative solutions from Saxony-Anhalt can contribute to successfully mastering challenges such as the energy transition.”

All information about the “Hugo-Junkers-Preis 2025” and how to participate can be found at: www.hugo-junkers-preis.de.  

For the latest updates on exciting topics in science, energy, climate protection, and the environment, follow the Ministry’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and X (formerly Twitter). 

The award ceremony for the Hugo-Junkers-Award 2023 took place on June 7, 2023, at the Schloss Köthen/Anhalt event center. Which of the bright minds from Saxony-Anhalt beamed the brightest with their trophies? Who attended the event, and what was the conclusion of patron and Minister of Science Professor Armin Willingmann? All of this is captured in the aftermovie of this year’s competition finale.

Roll the film

Minister awards the state's highest-endowed innovation prize

The universities of Magdeburg and Halle are the big winners in this year's “Hugo-Junkers-Award” competition. They take first place in three out of four categories, along with several second and third place finishes. Victory in the special category “Energy and Environmental Research” goes to a young photovoltaic company from Kabelsketal (Saalekreis).

Minister of Science Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann honored the winners today in Köthen (Anhalt-Bitterfeld district) and awarded prize money totaling 80,000 euros. He said: “Saxony-Anhalt is committed to innovation. The Hugo-Junkers-Preis impressively demonstrates that smart minds from science, industry, and crafts are shaping the future with great ideas in our state. These pioneers and enablers would certainly have thrilled Dessau’s aviation pioneer Hugo Junkers as well. All the more important that we bring these people and their outstanding achievements from labs and offices into the well-deserved spotlight with the Innovation Prize.”

The “Hugo-Junkers-Award” was awarded in four categories – from basic research and applied research to innovative products, services, and business models, as well as this year’s special prize for projects in energy and environmental research. The top-class jury, chaired by Prof. Dr. Julia Arlinghaus, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF Magdeburg, had a tough decision to make and selected three first-place winners in each of the four categories from a total of 60 applications. In addition to the high level of innovation, the ecological and social relevance of the creative products, groundbreaking research projects, and innovative business ideas “made in Saxony-Anhalt” were decisive.

Photos of the award ceremony will be available for download starting Thursday, June 8, at 1 p.m., here: https://lsaurl.de/HJP23Fotos.
 

The winning projects at a glance:

Category “Most Innovative Basic Research Projects”

• 1st Place (€10,000): Hydrogel-forming nanofibers – a new option for ocular drug therapy;
  Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg – Institute of Pharmacy / Department and Outpatient Clinic for Ophthalmology
  Eye drops and ointments are something almost everyone has used. The problem: the active ingredients they contain are often poorly absorbed or quickly broken down. The solution comes from Halle: novel electrospun fleeces have been developed there that quickly dissolve on the eye after administration, forming a hydrogel that allows active substances to remain effective longer and be fully absorbed into the tear fluid. This enables more efficient treatment and reduces the number of applications. Further advantages over conventional eye drops or ointments include improved storage stability and tolerability.
• 2nd Place (€7,000): Novel biocompatible Ta-Nb-Ti multicomponent alloy with antibacterial properties for use in biomedical applications;
  Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg – Chair of High-Temperature Materials / Experimental Orthopaedics
  With increasing life expectancy and a growing number of implantations, the demand for particularly durable and compatible materials for implants is also rising. The project developed a novel multicomponent alloy that combines antibacterial behavior with outstanding biomechanical properties.
• 3rd Place (€3,000): Endogenous retroviruses as target structures for new therapies against neurological diseases;
  University Hospital Halle (Saale) – University Clinic and Outpatient Clinic for Neurology – University Clinic for Pediatrics I / Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI
  The aim of the project is to develop new treatment approaches for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis. To this end, the research examined to what extent human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) may be responsible for the development of such diseases. HERV are viruses that integrated their genetic information into the human genome during evolution.
   

Category “Most Innovative Applied Research Projects”

• 1st Place (€10,000): µRIGS – Micropositioning Robotics for Image-Guided Surgery;
  Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg – Research Campus STIMULATE
  The globally novel system “µRIGS” supports surgical teams during minimally invasive, image-guided procedures. An innovative device was developed that allows medical precision tools to be positioned relative to a patient inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Thanks to its compact design, semi-automation, and remote control, minimally invasive procedures can be performed much more effectively despite the confined space within the narrow MRI tunnel. The patented “µRIGS” system gains even more importance with the rising number of cancer cases.
• 2nd Place (€7,000): Pro-Kran-Assist: Intelligent Process Observer for Crane Automation;
  Kranbau Köthen GmbH / Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF
  The newly developed, laser-based 3D crane assistant supports crane operators in a contactless and wear-free manner when picking up and setting down loads. Using cameras, the system creates a three-dimensional image of the crane’s workspace and displays the results in a VR model on a monitor.
• 3rd Place (€3,000): In-Situ Electrical Analyser – High-resolution Analysis Tool for Semiconductor Technologies;
  point electronic GmbH (Halle (Saale)) / CEA-Leti, Minatec (Grenoble)
  Semiconductors are not only the foundation of technological progress but are also becoming increasingly miniaturized. However, this ongoing miniaturization makes it more difficult to detect defects. For the first time worldwide, the project now enables electrical defect analysis of semiconductors at the sub-nanometer level—using extremely powerful transmission electron microscopes. To illustrate: this would be akin to checking from the moon which lamp is lit on the marketplace in Halle.
   

Category “Most Innovative Products, Services, and Business Models”

• 1st Place (€10,000): Simple and scalable synthesis of plant-based cholesterol in GMP quality;
  Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg – Faculty of Process and Systems Engineering – Institute of Chemistry
  A key component of modern mRNA vaccines is cholesterol, which is currently produced industrially primarily from animal sources. Thanks to the University of Magdeburg, this may change: chemists have developed an innovative process for synthesizing pharmaceutical-grade cholesterol from plant-based raw materials. This enables the production of large quantities of cholesterol needed for the industrial manufacture of mRNA vaccines. In cooperation with a pharmaceutical company, the laboratory synthesis was scaled to an industrial process, and the final product has already been marketed and distributed worldwide.
• 2nd Place (€7,000): The digital student ID;
  UniNow GmbH (Magdeburg)
  The digital student ID makes life easier for universities and students. It can be accessed directly via the “UniNow” app, displays data such as name, date of birth, student ID number, and validity, and connects to the university's campus management system. The ID is modularly expandable, resource-efficient, tamper-proof, accessible, and GDPR-compliant.
• 3rd Place (€3,000): Maximum shelf life and naturalness for flavored water;
  DIE FRISCHEMANUFAKTUR GmbH (Halle (Saale))
  “Infused water” is already a trend in private households: simply add herbs and fruit pieces to water, and you have a refreshing drink—without added sugar, artificial flavors, and with few calories. However, the trend has not yet reached retail stores—mainly due to complex production and short shelf life. These problems are now solved: the startup from Halle has developed a unique and patented manufacturing process that enables “infused water” to have a shelf life of up to 16 weeks, making it ready for sale in supermarkets, airports, or bakery chains.
   

Special Award “Most Innovative Projects in the Field of Energy and Environmental Research”

• 1st Place (€10,000): LECO – high-throughput equipment for increasing the efficiency of solar cells;
  CE Cell Engineering GmbH (Kabelsketal)
  The company has developed a process to enhance the performance of crystalline silicon solar cells: LECO (Laser Enhanced Contact Optimization) improves metal-semiconductor contacts, thereby enabling higher cell efficiency at manageable costs. The effectiveness of the process has been confirmed by photovoltaic institutes and is already being used in solar cell production.
• 2nd Place (€7,000): Recycling process for crystalline solar modules;
  SOLAR MATERIALS GmbH (Magdeburg)
  This innovative recycling process closes the raw material loop of photovoltaics and thus improves the resource efficiency and carbon footprint of solar modules. What makes it special: it is the first process worldwide that enables the recovery of all raw materials—from glass, aluminum, and plastics to silicon, copper, and silver.
• 3rd Place (€3,000): Nanolope buffer storage for storing excess heat;
  Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg – Institute of Chemistry
  The newly developed material “Nanolope” can store significantly more energy than conventional building materials such as concrete or gypsum. The key is the combination of a material that stores large amounts of energy through its phase change from solid to liquid, and a fixed porous carrier matrix, allowing it to remain a solid body on a macroscopic scale. Based on “Nanolope,” a novel hot water storage system has already been developed that can store excess heat or electricity for several months.

For updates and behind-the-scenes insights into the competition, there is a dedicated LinkedIn focus page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hugo-junkers-preis-für-forschung-und-innovation.

 Editorial Note:
If you would like to report on the remarkable ideas from the region in connection with the competition, we will be happy to put you in touch with the nominees.
 

Press Contact:
Investitions- und Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH,
Nicole Krüger, Project Manager Marketing, Culture/Creative Industries
Tel.: +49 391 568 9914
Mail: nicole.krueger@img-sachsen-anhalt.de

Current information on interesting topics from science, energy, climate protection, and the environment is also available on the ministry’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mastodon and Twitter.

Decision on Awards Made at the Headquarters of the Leopoldina in Halle (Saale)

In the end, it was eight hours, 19 pitches, and plenty of discussions that lay behind the jury of the Hugo-Junkers-Preis 2023. During the grand jury session held on April 27 at the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle (Saale), the focus was no longer on advancing to the next round. The concrete question was answered: Who will win the total of 12 awards in the four categories of the competition for research and innovation from Saxony-Anhalt?

After evaluating the written applications, the participants presented themselves in person before the jury in the Leopoldina’s conference hall. Each team had 15 minutes in total—ten minutes for their pitch and five minutes to respond to open questions posed by the jury members, chaired by Prof. Dr. Julia Arlinghaus, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation. Following the session, a photo shoot and video recording for public relations purposes related to the Hugo-Junkers-Award were on the agenda.

The Leopoldina provided a dignified and awe-inspiring setting for the event. Many participants were visiting the headquarters of the world’s oldest academy of natural sciences for the first time. It is a remarkable building with a storied past, originally constructed in the 17th century and fully restored between 2009 and 2011 according to historical models.

“We are pleased to have once again been guests at the Leopoldina with the Hugo-Junkers-Award,” says Nicole Krüger from the Investment and Marketing Corporation of Saxony-Anhalt, which organizes the competition in cooperation with Univations GmbH. “It’s an ideal backdrop for our applicants.” The grand jury session was intense, but thanks to focused and concentrated work, the panel was able to reach a unanimous decision.

Which brilliant teams have reason to celebrate will be announced on June 7 at the Hugo-Junkers-Award 2023 award ceremony.

Jury Selects 19 Potential Award Winners from 60 Applications

Innovation Meets Social Benefit:
Nominees for the Hugo-Junkers-Award Announced

And the nominees are... Most people likely associate this phrase with the annual “Oscar” ceremony in Los Angeles. But it’s also regularly heard in Saxony-Anhalt—though not for the world’s most prestigious film award, but for the state’s highest-endowed innovation prize: the “HUGO-JUNKERS-Award for Research and Innovation from Saxony-Anhalt.” Established in 1998, it is currently awarded every two years and comes with a total prize money of €80,000.

This week, a high-caliber jury chaired by Prof. Dr. Julia Arlinghaus, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF Magdeburg, selected 19 nominees across four categories from a total of 60 applications. In addition to the high level of innovation, societal benefit was a key criterion. Arlinghaus remarked: “This year, we had intensive discussions about ensuring that we honor innovations with both ecological and social relevance.”

The 19 nominees will have the opportunity to personally present their ideas to the jury at the Leopoldina in Halle (Saale) at the end of April. Finalists will be selected following the presentations; the winners of the HUGO-JUNKERS-Award will receive their awards on June 7, 2023, from Minister of Science Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann at Köthen Castle. He commented: “I’m really looking forward to meeting the enablers and visionaries who want to follow in the footsteps of Dessau aviation pioneer Hugo Junkers.”

And the nominees are:

Kategorie „Innovativste Vorhaben der Grundlagenforschung“

• „Hydrogelformende Nanofasern – eine neue Option für die Arzneimitteltherapie am Auge“; Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• „Tragbarer, langanhaltender, persönlicher Insektenschutz aus bioabbaubarem Kunststoff aus dem 3D-Drucker“; Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• „Neuartige biokompatible Ta-Nb-Ti Multikomponentenlegierung mit antibakteriellen Eigenschaften für den Einsatz in biomedizinischen Anwendungen“; Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• „Endogene Retroviren als Zielstrukturen für neue Therapien gegen neurologische Erkrankungen“; Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg / Fraunhofer Institut für Zelltherapie und Immunologie
• „Einfache und skalierbare Synthese von pflanzenbasiertem Cholesterol in GMP-Qualität“; Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
   

Category “Most Innovative Applied Research Projects”

• “Inline detection of polyesterimide degradation in electric motors”; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
• “µRIGS – Micropositioning Robotics for Image-Guided Surgery”; Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Research Campus STIMULATE
• “Pro-Kran-Assist: Intelligent Process Observer for Crane Automation”; Kranbau Köthen GmbH / Fraunhofer IFF Magdeburg
• “In-Situ Electrical Analyser – High-resolution analysis tool for semiconductor technologies”; point electronic GmbH
• “Development of a fast microtesting method for electronic assemblies – MINITEL”; ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH / Fraunhofer IMWS Halle (Saale)
   

Category “Most Innovative Products, Services, and Business Models”

• “Maximum shelf life and naturalness for flavored water”; DIE FRISCHEMANUFAKTUR GmbH
• “Novel acid carriers in the feed industry”; SAMPOCHEM GmbH
• “The digital student ID”; UniNow GmbH
• “Raydio – Reducing barriers through audio”; mycrocast GmbH
   

Special Award “Most Innovative Projects in the Field of Energy and Environmental Research”

• “Recycling process for crystalline solar modules”; SOLAR MATERIALS GmbH
• “Recycling of wind turbine blades / glass fiber-reinforced plastic”; Deutsche Vacuumtrockner GmbH
• “LECO – High-throughput equipment for increasing the efficiency of solar cells”; CE Cell Engineering GmbH
• “Nanolope buffer storage for storing excess heat”; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg / Institute of Chemistry
• “Double-sided façade element for filtering polluted air”; Moosaik UG

For updates and behind-the-scenes insights into the competition, there is a dedicated LinkedIn focus page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hugo-junkers-preis-für-forschung-und-innovation.

 Editorial Note:
If you would like to report on the remarkable ideas from the region in connection with the competition, we will be happy to put you in touch with the nominees.
 

Press Contact:
Investitions- und Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH,
Nicole Krüger, Project Manager Marketing, Culture/Creative Industries
Tel.: +49 391 568 9914
Mail: nicole.krueger@img-sachsen-anhalt.de

Current information on interesting topics from science, energy, climate protection, and the environment is also available on the ministry’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mastodon and Twitter.

You can download the press release here as a PDF..

… were submitted by the application deadline. We are very pleased with the great interest in the renowned innovation award! Which groundbreaking research projects and creative business ideas will be honored will be announced at the award ceremony on June 7, 2023. The competition is endowed with a total of €80,000. Visionaries from Saxony-Anhalt have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Dessau aviation pioneer Hugo Junkers in four categories – from basic and applied research to innovative products, services, and business models, as well as this year’s special category for projects in the field of energy and environmental research.

To the instagram-post

Final Stretch for the “Hugo-Junkers-Award 2023”: Applications Still Open for Around Three Weeks

Innovative minds from universities, research institutions, and companies still have about three weeks to apply for Saxony-Anhalt’s prestigious innovation award. Until January 11, 2023, the competition is seeking groundbreaking research projects or creative business ideas from science, industry, and crafts. The award is endowed with a total of €80,000, and the award ceremony is scheduled for June 7, 2023.

Apply, convince the jury, and secure the title and prize money: visionaries from Saxony-Anhalt can follow in the footsteps of Dessau aviation pioneer Hugo Junkers in four categories—from basic and applied research to innovative products, services, and business models, as well as this year’s special category for energy and environmental research projects. Applications can also be submitted directly online. More information is available at: www.hugo-junkers-preis.de.

Minister Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann offers strong encouragement to apply:
“Saxony-Anhalt is innovative. Many inventors, founders, and researchers live here who are improving our lives with their ideas. However, this innovative work too often remains hidden from the general public. Applying for or even winning the Hugo-Junkers-Award can change that in the long term. With this competition, we bring brilliant achievements and the smart minds behind them into the well-deserved spotlight. It’s fine to take things a bit slower until Christmas, but after that, it should be: Priority for innovation and applying for the Hugo-Junkers-Award.”

Current information on interesting topics in science, energy, climate protection, and the environment is also available on the ministry’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mastodon and Twitter.

Total Prize Money of €80,000 / Applications Open Until January 11

Hugo Junkers himself would surely be thrilled: The aviation pioneer from Dessau once again lends his name to the prestigious state competition focused on forward-looking innovations from science, industry, and crafts. Minister of Science Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann officially launched the new edition of the “Hugo Junkers Award for Research and Innovation from Saxony-Anhalt 2023” today. The competition is endowed with a total of €80,000. Applications can be submitted until January 11, 2023; the award ceremony is scheduled for June.

Groundbreaking research projects or creative business ideas are sought in four categories, ranging from basic and applied research to innovative products, services, and business models. This year’s special award is dedicated to outstanding projects in the field of energy and environmental research. The Award winners will be selected by a distinguished jury, which includes, among others, Prof. Dr. Julia C. Arlinghaus (Chair), Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, and Prof. Dr. Gerald Haug, President of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Willingmann stated:
“In Saxony-Anhalt, it is once again possible to follow in the footsteps of a remarkable visionary of the 20th century. Today, our state is still home to many brilliant minds in the tradition of Hugo Junkers—people who want to improve our lives with their ideas. With our innovation award, we are bringing these visionaries and enablers from universities, research institutions, and companies into the well-deserved spotlight. Let us once again show how innovative Saxony-Anhalt is. It’s worth applying.”