Three teams are under consideration for the German Future Prize 2025, which is bestowed by the country's Federal President.
The German Future Prize 2025 has been announced, and three innovative teams from Thuringia, Hamburg, and Baden-Württemberg have been nominated for the prestigious award.
The honorees of the President's Prize for Technology and Innovation develop solutions for pressing societal challenges, and this year's nominees are no exception.
Team I, led by Dr. Mark Bischoff, Dr. Gregor Stobrawa, and Dirk Mühlhoff from Jena, have developed a novel, minimally invasive eye laser surgery method for correcting refractive errors. This new procedure replaces established worldwide procedures for animal cell surgery, making it more comfortable and safer for millions of people.
Team II, composed of Dr. Anne Lamp, Sina Spingler, and Niklas Rambow from Hamburg, have developed a bioplastic made from natural polymers from plant residues. This biodegradable biomass material offers a genuine alternative to fossil plastics and could have a significant impact on reducing waste.
The third nominated team, Team III, consists of Christoffer Uhr, Kai Weeber, and Pierre Andrieu from Stuttgart. They have developed a new fuel cell drive for heavy trucks that enables emission-free long-distance transport. The compact fuel cell reacts hydrogen with oxygen to form water and continuously generates electrical energy, replacing diesel-powered drives in heavy-duty transport with a robust, everyday-ready, and climate-friendly alternative. Refueling a hydrogen-powered truck takes only a few minutes, and it weighs around four tons less than a comparable battery-powered truck - a crucial advantage for payload.
The potential of these solutions includes economic success and opening up new growth fields. For instance, the thermoplastic granulate developed by Team II can be processed like conventional plastic, and existing machines can be used unchanged. Meanwhile, Team III's fuel cell drive could revolutionise heavy-duty transport, making it more sustainable and eco-friendly.
The winners of the German Future Prize 2025 will be decided by the jury on November 19, 2025. The German President will present the prize to the winning team on the same evening at a live-streamed awards ceremony. The Hamburg-based startup traceless, who have developed a genuine alternative to single-use products, functional, sustainable, and traceless, will also be recognised at the ceremony.
Stay tuned to find out who will take home the 250,000 Euro endowment and the title of the German Future Prize 2025 winner!
