The oldest and most successful innovation award in Germany has launched its open innovation platform “Dieselmedaille für die beste Zukunftsidee”. Medium-sized technology leaders such as Claas, Osram, Rittal, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Stihl, Dräxlmaier or Schüco present challenging questions about innovative technologies. Applicants are graduates from the STEM field who can not only win 5.000 euros in prize money, but also get direct access to the companies as possible employers.

The diesel medal for the best prospective idea is a new award and part of the awarding of the diesel medal. The traditional awards relate to innovative achievements in the past. The new prize is intended to honor current ideas from talented young professionals. Students of the technical and natural science area as well as graduates and doctoral students of corresponding disciplines can take part. The competition is also aimed at students who are still enrolled and who are already working in young start-ups. The participants can work on current tasks of German medium-sized companies and submit their ideas and proposed solutions. The new award enables direct contact between motivated students and industrial companies. The competition not only promotes innovation in German medium-sized companies, but also makes it easier for companies and students to get in touch with their future employees or employers.

In an interview with the journal Bild der Wissenschaft, Prof. Dr. Alexander Wurzer, spokesman for the Diesel Board of Trustees (the election committee for the diesel medal) and Prof. Dr. Dieter Spath, acatech President and spokesman for the technical-scientific Advisory Board (the diesel medal suggestion committee) talk about the importance of the new diesel medal for the best prospective idea in the innovation landscape. They also show why it is an excellent platform for medium-sized technology companies to present themselves to STEM graduates and the interested public.

You can download the interview here.