Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder: “Bavaria is known for high-tech and excellence. We are among the global leaders across the entire spectrum of future technologies. At present we are boosting domestic investment in Bavaria and expanding our international network. On this occasion we honor Daniela Rus, a world-renowned authority in robotics and AI. She conducts research at MIT in Massachusetts, shaping the next generation of intelligent and connected robots. From the operating table to the highway, to the depths of the sea, her innovations help make life longer and better. Her pioneering spirit fits perfectly with the "Bavarian Way of Life”: with its High-Tech Agenda, Bavaria is the sole federal state in Germany to invest six billion euros into science and research - from quantum computing to artificial intelligence, from robotics to bio-life sciences, from defense tech to aerospace. In doing so, we are creating a unique ecosystem: Bavaria is Germany’s number one startup hub, leads the way in attracting venture capital, and is home to the two best universities in the European Union, the Technical University of Munich and Ludwig Maximilian University. This atmosphere attracts top companies and researchers from around the world to Bavaria. As Germany’s most highly endowed technology award, the High-Tech Prize is another flagship achievement. High-tech shapes the future. Innovation will create new value and prosperity for our societies in the longer term.”
 
This years' award winner Prof. Daniela Rus is a world-leading expert in the field of robotics and autonomous systems who is shaping the next generation of intelligent and connected robots. Her research aims to develop flexible, safe technology which integrates seamlessly into people’s everyday lives. Daniela Rus is a pioneer in the field of self-organizing robot collectives. Together with her team, she has developed some of the first modular robots capable of assembling, disassembling, and transforming into different shapes for specific tasks without human intervention. In addition, she is considered the founder of modern soft robotics. Her flexible, shape-shifting robots and origami robots have completely redefined our concept of robotic bodies, and significantly expanded the range of applications for autonomous systems in sensitive ecosystems or within the human body. In the field of autonomous mobility, she has developed planning and decision-making processes for self-driving vehicles and on-demand mobility systems. Rus’s team integrates methods from social psychology into the decision-making of autonomous vehicles, enabling them to analyze and anticipate the social behavior of road users – a key factor for safe interaction between humans and machines. A recent focus of Rus’s research is AI architecture inspired by the human brain, which is specifically tailored to autonomous systems in practical applications. Her liquid neural networks are enabling, among other things, drones to navigate in unfamiliar environments or to adapt to novel weather and lighting conditions.
 
The societal relevance of Rus’s work – a key criterion for the award – is evident in its numerous applications across sectors such as mobility, healthcare, care, agriculture, logistics, and environmental and disaster protection. Underwater robots protect sensitive ecosystems; swallowable robots are opening up new avenues in medicine; autonomous boats and vehicles are improving urban mobility; and AI co-pilots are enhancing flight safety. Through industrial partnerships and Liquid AI – the company she co-founded – Rus is a key figure in driving technological advances. “In all her research, Daniela Rus is a pioneer in responsible AI and autonomous systems. At the same time, she has an impressive track record in the areas of innovation and technology transfer,” the selection committee of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities explained.
 
Minister of Science Markus Blume:  “Professor Daniela Rus sets the standard for research in AI and robotics. Through her visionary research, she combines human creativity with machine intelligence, using fundamental scientific study to provide concrete societal benefits. Her work impressively demonstrates that cutting-edge technological research has its greatest impact when it serves humanity. Daniela Rus embodies scientific excellence, a bold vision for the future, and the power of research to make tomorrow’s world a little better. And from personal encounters, I know that Daniela Rus cherishes international networking. It’s wonderful that she personally embodies the connection between Boston and Bavaria, between MIT and TUM.”
 
Academy President Prof. Dr. Markus Schwaiger: “With this award, the Academy emphasizes the central role of research in both the Bavarian and international contexts. It provides a targeted stimulus which will incentivize further research in areas of major scientific and societal significance. It gives me particular pleasure that we are honoring Daniela Rus this year. Through her scientific excellence, innovative spirit, and the outstanding societal relevance of her work, she perfectly embodies the spirit of the prize. We wish her the warmest congratulations!”

Detailed rationale
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