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Deutscher Zukunftspreis award

The winners of the Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2024 with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

The winners of the Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2024 with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

The team led by Dr Norwin von Malm, Stefan Grötsch (ams-OSRAM International GmbH, Regensburg) and Dr Hermann Oppermann (Fraunhofer IZM, Berlin) was awarded the Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2024 by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for the development of a new type of light source.

The light source, which will initially be used in headlights, uses more than 25,000 small LEDs arranged in a 320x80 matrix instead of just a few large ones. In combination with appropriate optics, this creates a spotlight that is comparable to a projector. Thanks to the individually controllable LEDs, the spatial distribution of the light can be controlled and thus optimally adapted to the situation. It is also possible to project pictograms such as snowflakes onto the road. Other application scenarios for the ‘digital light’, as the developers call it, include use as a virtual monitor in augmented reality glasses or as a light source for a fibre optic bundle.

Two other developments were nominated for the Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2024: A compact and efficient generative AI that is freely accessible and thus enables countless applications, especially for young companies, and a power semiconductor module that enables significantly higher current flows with the same size but with 90 per cent lower switching losses compared to conventional modules. The DPMA had suggested the innovative power semiconductor module to the Federal President.

With the Deutscher Zukunftspreis, the Federal President honours outstanding research and development projects and recognises forward-looking technologies. The protection of these innovations paves the way to successful marketable products. The jury's decision is based essentially on the scientific and technical degree of innovation and the potential to translate this achievement into sustainable jobs. The renowned technology prize is endowed with 250,000 euros and will be presented personally by the Federal President.

Take your chance

Contact

Dr. Stefan Kaiser
Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
D-80297 München
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 2195-4751
E-Mail: Stefan.Kaiser@dpma.de
or
Dr. Andrea Hermann
Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
D-80297 München
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 2195-3581
E-Mail: Andrea.Hermann@dpma.de

Draw attention to the innovation made by your team of researchers and developers and let us know about your ideas and projects in the fields of engineering and natural sciences. Submissions for the Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2026 can be filed at any time until the beginning of November 2025.

As an institution entitled to submit proposals, we nominate up to three interesting projects to the jury. The President of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office is a member of the Board of Trustees, which determines the direction of the selection decisions.

Please send your documents electronically to Stefan.Kaiser@dpma.de or Andrea.Hermann@dpma.de.

The deadline for submitting your documents is 4 November 2025.


Detailed information is available in the following documents (in German):

Information about the procedure is also available on the website of

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Pictures: Deutscher Zukunftspreis/Ansgar Prudenz

Last updated: 12 December 2024