Message from the Federal President

Esteemed friends of the Deutscher Zukunftspreis,

A few decades from now, people will probably no longer be able to imagine what it is like to drive a car themselves or to fill it up with petrol. The fact that coal, oil and gas were once the most important sources of energy will perhaps seem as alien to them as steam engines appear to us today.

We are standing not only on the threshold of a fossil-free industrial society, but also on the verge of profound changes brought about by artificial intelligence. This societal transformation is placing unprecedented demands on us even now, and will continue to do so in the years to come. To get on top of this, we need technological innovation – and, equally important, social innovation. After all, the transformation will change our society, our daily lives and the future of hundreds of thousands of jobs.

To ensure that this transformation is successful, we need people who pursue new avenues of thought, who have the courage to venture off the beaten track and to blaze a trail for new approaches. We are paying tribute to precisely such people with the Deutscher Zukunftspreis. They have sought – and found – new solutions. I am most delighted that outstanding researchers have been nominated for the Deutscher Zukunftspreis once again this year. They show that we need not be afraid of change. On the contrary, innovations can increase our efficiency and heighten our security. What is more, they are often suited for a wide range of applications. This research is opening up new opportunities for us as a society, creating new jobs and taking our country into the future.

I would like to thank the scientists who have been nominated, as well as the research institutions, universities and companies that have helped make their work possible. Permit me to offer my sincere congratulations to the recipients of the Deutscher Zukunftspreis!