Dossier Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Max Planck Society International Research Award

From 2018, a joint Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Max Planck Society award will be granted on an annually rotating basis to a research in the natural and engineering sciences, the life sciences, or the humanities and social sciences. It is being financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Every year, one researcher from abroad with outstanding future potential will be honoured.

The award seeks to recruit outstanding and particularly innovative international researchers to work at German universities and research institutions for a fixed-term period, which they can organise flexibly. The award amount of €1.5 million is earmarked for building a temporary research group in Germany or developing innovative research formats. In addition, the award winner will receive €80,000 in personal funding.

In 2017, the existing award granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Max Planck Society, the "Max Planck Research Award", was re-designed. A two-tier, science-driven selection procedure will now identify three candidates who are interested in a flexible research residency at a German research institution, preferably a university. At the same time, it will be determined whether the German partner is an appropriate match in terms of research direction and concrete plans for collaboration. A selection committee, which will include the Presidents of the Humboldt Foundation and the Max Planck Society, will then select the award winner.

Every year from 2004 to 2016, one researcher working in Germany and one working abroad were granted a theme-based award. Over this period, the award amount of the “Max Planck Research Award” was €750,000 each.

Award winners

• Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award Winners 2022
• Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award Winners 2021
• Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award Winners 2020
• Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award Winners 2019
• Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award Winners 2018
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2016
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2015
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2014
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2013
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2012
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2011
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2010
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2009
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2008
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2007
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2006
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2005
• Max Planck Research Award Winners 2004