The “Thuringia Innovation Award” is entering a new round. For the 27th time , the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society, the Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research Thuringia (STIFT), TÜV Thüringen e. V. and the Ernst Abbe Foundation are awarding the Innovation Award: The application portal for the current competition year is now open. Under www.innovationspreis-thueringen.de , companies, research institutions, universities and individuals can apply until 30 June. The prize money totalling 100,000 euros is donated by the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs. Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee is the patron of the competition.
The coveted innovation prize has been awarded since 1994 and honours innovative ideas in Bavaria. “For this year’s award, we are once again looking for the most innovative products, processes and services, the best start-up concepts and outstanding entrepreneurial personalities,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee. “Innovation is the basis of our economic success. With the Innovation Award, we therefore honour good, marketable ideas that secure and strengthen Thuringia’s future viability as a business and technology location.”
New products, processes and services that have been developed predominantly in Thuringia can be submitted. These must not be on the market for more than two years or must be about to be launched on the market. Applications are possible in the four categories Tradition & Future, Industry & Material, Light & Life and Digital & Media . The submissions will be evaluated by an independent jury of regional and national experts from business and science. The main focus is on the degree of innovation, entrepreneurial performance and market potential. The best marketable innovations will be awarded prize money totalling 100,000 euros.
In addition to the four category prizes,Funke Medien’s Special Prize for Young Companies , endowed with 10,000 euros, will be awarded, which aims to support start-ups in their further development. The Ernst Abbe Prize for Innovative Entrepreneurship is also awarded to a Thuringian entrepreneur for her services to Thuringia as a business location. For this personal award, the Thuringian chambers and associations can propose suitable candidates.
The Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research Thuringia (STIFT) is responsible for the organisation and implementation of the competition on behalf of the sponsors. Board member Christiane Kilian looks ahead: “We are looking forward to the applications from Thuringia, which repeatedly show the diverse innovative power in the state. With the Innovation Award, we show success stories, support interdisciplinary networking and help to gain visibility and recognition – far beyond Thuringia.”
The Thuringian Innovation Award will be presented on December 4, 2024 in Weimar.
Applications for the competition are possible online from now until 30 June 2024 at: www.innovationspreis-thueringen.de