Wittenstein Biointelligence Award

The Wittenstein Biointelligence Award will be awarded on October 6, 2026, as part of a festive ceremony at the “Biointelligence Congress” in Stuttgart. The first-placed startup / company will receive €20,000, whereas the first-placed individual from a research institution will receive €10,000.

The biological transformation of industry is crucial for making production sustainable without sacrificing prosperity. The aim is to sustainably optimize established product and production structures by promoting innovative approaches at the interface of life sciences, engineering, and information technology.

The Wittenstein Biointelligence Award recognizes novel approaches or solutions in the fields of biotechnology, information technology and production technology. Submitted proposals should demonstrate an effective integration of information technology, production engineering, biotechnology and present integrative approaches that are as holistic as possible.

Particular emphasis is placed on ideas having a clear impact on sustainability, for example by reducing the carbon footprint, promoting renewable energies, reducing waste, or improving the ecological footprint.

Start-up / Company

• Recently founded and established companies in the fields of biotechnology, AI, or related topics.
• Interdisciplinary nature of the company/start-up: Companies that can demonstrate expertise in at least two of the following areas: biotechnology, artificial intelligence, production technology, and sustainability (particularly integrative approaches).

Individuals from research institutions based in the EU

• Researchers and academics: Individuals working at universities or research institutions with a focus on biotechnology, artificial intelligence, or sustainability.
• Interdisciplinarity through a combination of expertise from at least two relevant fields must be demonstrated.
• Doctoral students who can demonstrate relevant research work in overlapping areas of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, or sustainability.

The criteria for awarding the prize will be announced soon:

1. Innovation and originality: The idea should offer a novel approach or solution at the intersection of biotechnology,information technology and production technology. It should demonstrate creativity and provide an alternative to conventional methods.
2. Feasibility and scalability: The concept should be practically implementable and have the potential for large-scale deployment. ​
3. Industrial impact : Commercial exploitation and tech transfer potential, as well as the general impact should be highlighted.
4. Ethical considerations: The idea should adhere to ethical standards, including the responsible use of technology and consideration of long-term societal impacts. ​
5. Impact on sustainability: The idea should have a clear impact on sustainability. This may include reducing the carbon footprint, promoting the use of renewable energy, reducing waste, or improving ecological balance. 

The Wittenstein Biointelligence Award is granted by the Wittenstein Foundation. The jury is composed of experts in the field of biointelligence:

• The jury will be announced soon.