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Biointelligence Award

Wittenstein Foundation

Biointelligence is one of the critical innovation pathways for sustainable renewal of manufacturing value added. Dr. Manfred Wittenstein, initiator and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wittenstein Foundation, is convinced that “In the future, biointelligent concepts, productions and systems will have a decisive influence on the prosperity both of Baden-Württemberg and of Germany as a whole. The Wittenstein Foundation’s involvement here is founded on the belief that biointelligent systems have the potential to resolve today’s impossibilities and conflicting goals."

The Wittenstein Biointelligence Award recognizes innovative approaches at the interface of life sciences, engineering and information technology. Individuals and companies whose interdisciplinary approaches effectively combine information technology, production technology and biotechnology are invited to participate.

The solutions submitted should have a clear impact on sustainability, be it by reducing the carbon footprint, promoting renewable energy, reducing waste or improving the ecological balance.

award 2026
call for tenders

The second Wittenstein Biointelligence Prize will be awarded on 6 October 2026 as part of the ‘Biointelligence Congress’ in Stuttgart. The start-up or company taking first place will receive €20,000, whilst the individual from a research institution taking first place will receive €10,000.

Are you working on a relevant innovation? Then make the most of this opportunity and apply now! The closing date for entries is 31 July 2026.
Please send the completed application form to event@ipa.fraunhofer.de.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Interdisciplinary Thinking (Strongest Predictor)

The Foundation explicitly promotes understanding the relationships among:

Humans
Technology
Nature
Society
Economic systems

Projects that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries appear most aligned with its mission.

2. Originality and Innovation

Through programs such as the Einstein Fellowship, supported by the Wittenstein Foundation, successful applicants are expected to pursue projects that are substantially different from their prior work and demonstrate originality and creativity.

Competitive projects typically show:

Novel perspectives
Creative methodologies
New conceptual frameworks
Unconventional research directions

3. Alignment with Foundation Purpose

The Foundation specifically highlights interest in understanding:

Technological transformation
Economic change
Ecological sustainability
Social development
Future societal challenges

Projects addressing these interconnected themes are particularly well aligned.

4. Contribution to Transformation and Future Challenges

The Foundation's stated goal is to contribute to solving major 21st-century challenges and supporting sustainable transformation. Projects that address:

Sustainability
Resource conservation
Future generations
Responsible innovation
Social adaptation to technological change

are especially relevant.

5. Intellectual Excellence

Selection criteria for Foundation-supported programs repeatedly emphasize:

Exceptional intellectual development
Academic excellence
Creative thinking
Ability to pursue challenging ideas

Applicants are expected to demonstrate high intellectual potential rather than simply technical competence.

6. Feasibility

Even highly innovative proposals must demonstrate:

Realistic objectives
Achievable milestones
Practical implementation plans

For example, Einstein Fellowship applications are evaluated partly on the feasibility of the proposed project.

7. Cross-Sector Perspective

Projects that bridge:

Academia
Industry
Society
Policy
Entrepreneurship

fit well with the Foundation's emphasis on dialogue between researchers and practitioners.

8. Long-Term Impact and Sustainability

The Foundation repeatedly references safeguarding resources for future generations and supporting sustainable development pathways.

Projects with long-term relevance and broad societal benefits tend to align strongly with these goals.

9. Independent Thinking

The Einstein Fellowship, one of the Foundation's best-known funding activities, specifically seeks individuals willing to explore ideas outside their established specialization.

Successful applicants typically demonstrate:

Intellectual independence
Curiosity
Willingness to challenge disciplinary boundaries
Self-directed thinking

10. Communication and Public Engagement

The Foundation supports conferences, public dialogue, interdisciplinary exchange, and public presentations of funded work.

Projects capable of engaging broader audiences beyond academia may have an advantage.

Frequently Supported Themes

Based on the Foundation's mission and supported programs, highly aligned topics include:

Technology and society
Artificial intelligence and ethics
Sustainability and climate transitions
Future of work
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Science–society interactions
Economic transformation
Responsible technology development
Interdisciplinary systems research
Human-centered technological change
Education and STEM development
Future generations and resource stewardship

Funding Strategy

A highly competitive Wittenstein Foundation proposal typically includes:

A highly original and interdisciplinary idea.
Clear relevance to societal, technological, or ecological transformation.
Strong intellectual ambition.
Evidence of independent thinking and creativity.
A feasible implementation plan.
Potential for long-term societal impact.
A project that bridges disciplines, sectors, or traditional boundaries.

Key Insight

Compared with traditional research foundations, the Wittenstein Foundation places particularly strong emphasis on interdisciplinary innovation, systems thinking, societal transformation, and understanding the interactions between technology, people, nature, and society. Projects that combine intellectual originality with practical relevance to future societal challenges appear most likely to succeed.

Specialties

Artificial Intelligence

Technology Development

Eligibility Requirements

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Wittenstein Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Straße 1, 97999 Igersheim

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