PIONEER
AWARD
of the Bavarian Academy
of Sciences and Humanities
Award winner 2025
Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Gerhard P. Fettweis
Vodafone Chair
for Mobile Communications Systems,
Technische Universität Dresden
“Trustworthiness is the cornerstone of a digitalised democracy.”
Rationale
The development of mobile communications technologies today is essentially based on the groundbreaking work of Gerhard P. Fettweis – particularly in the area of 3G, 4G, 5G and 6G mobile communications standards. Fettweis was instrumental in the development of methods for reliable and energy-efficient transmission of high data rates in mobile communications, making, for example, highly automated driving safer, and has shaped innovative concepts such as the “Tactile Internet”. In 6G research, Gerhard P. Fettweis has been advancing the reduction of energy requirements of mobile communications systems and is conducting research into the use of mobile communications signals for both communication and radar sensor technology.
Award
The Pioneer Award of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities honours researchers for technological excellence that has also had a broad impact on society. The award is endowed with 300,000 €. Donated by the Ulrich L. Rohde Foundation, the international award promotes the transfer of groundbreaking research into practice – for innovations that have a lasting impact on our lives.
The Pioneer Award of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities is announced annually, focusing on different disciplines each year (in 2025: Communication Technology).
By hosting the Pioneer Award of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities the Academy underscores the significance of science and research in the international context and places emphasis on topics of scientific and social relevance.
Selection procedure
The candidates for the Pioneer Award of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities are chosen by a panel chaired by the President of the Academy. Criteria for the selection of awardees include the quality of their scientific work according to internationally recognised scientific standards as well as social relevance, transferability and future-oriented content of the research results. Their successful implementation into commercial products with broad impact on society is also recognised. Following an international call for applications a shortlist is drawn up in a multi-stage process, during which the selection panel submits a recommendation for eligible candidates to the Board of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The final decision on the award is made by the Board of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.