Innovation Award

Looking for projects by bright minds

Applications are open to

• DESY employees from all departments


• Individuals and teams


• Cooperation projects with external persons and / or groups. The majority of the group members should be employed by DESY and the contribution of the DESY employees needs to be significant and clearly recognizable.

Ideas with impact

DESY competences and know-how will be awarded, which have the potential to positively contribute to solutions for society and economy. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the ideas:

• Possibilities of usability also outside of research institutions. Inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation within DESY and with actors from other institutions in science, industry and society should also be possible.


• contribute to one or more DESY competence fields and strengthen them


• Potential for transfer to subsequent and / or different transfer possibilities (e.g. through further funding measures, validation projects)

The award committee consists of various jury members, including representatives from science, industry and the innovation ecosystem, as well as one person from the Technology Transfer Office at DESY. The jury members are:

      
• Achim Adams, Managing Partner at AM HAFEN CAPITAL

      
• Barbara Blenski, Systemic Innovation and Organizational Consulting

      
• Nadine Kammerlander, FamBiz Professor & Institute Director & Director Diversity der WHU



• Stefan Scherer: Head of Innovation Management, HZI Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung

      
• Irina Smirnova: VP Technische Universität Hamburg Harburg (TUHH)

      
• Technical Advisory: Ilka Mahns, Head of Technology Transfer, in representation of Arik Willner, CTO DESY

DESY promotes equal opportunities for women and the professional development of women. In order to make the achievements of women in science, in technical professions and in science-related and science-supporting areas visible, the recognition of their achievements, also in the form of prizes, is particularly important. The Directorate and the Equal Opportunities Officers therefore expressly request that women should be proposed for nominations/awards if they are suitable.

Information on the 2025 tender will follow here in spring.