The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (), or Leibniz Prize, is awarded by the German Research Foundation to "exceptional scientists and academics for their outstanding achievements in the field of research". Since 1986, up to ten prizes have been awarded annually to individuals or research groups working at a research institution in Germany or at a German research institution abroad. It is considered the most important research award in Germany.
The prize is named after the German polymath and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716). It is one of the highest endowed research prizes in Germany with a maximum of €2.5 million per award. Past prize winners include Stefan Hell (2008), Gerd Faltings (1996), Peter Gruss (1994), Svante Pääbo (1992), Theodor W. Hänsch (1989), Erwin Neher (1987), Bert Sakmann (1987), Jürgen Habermas (1986), Hartmut Michel (1986), and Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard (1986).
Prizewinners
2020–2029 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2026: Klaus Blaum – Experimental Physics, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg Christian Doeller – Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig Christian Hasse – Energy Process Technology, Technische Universität Darmstadt Johannes Krause – Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig Julia Mahamid – Structural Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg Klaus-Robert Müller – Machine Learning, Technische Universität Berlin Frank Pollmann – Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Technical University of Munich (TUM) Armido Studer – Organic Molecular Chemistry, University of Münster Barbara Vetter – Theoretical Philosophy, Free University of Berlin Cornelia Zumbusch – Modern German Literature, University of Hamburg 2025: Volker Haucke – Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, Berlin Hannes Leitgeb – Theoretical Philosophy, LMU Munich Bettina Valeska Lotsch – Solid State and Materials Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart Wolfram Pernice – Experimental Physics, Heidelberg University Ana Pombo – Genome Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Daniel Rueckert – Artificial Intelligence, Technical University of Munich Angkana Rüland – Applied Mathematics, University of Bonn Michael Seewald – Catholic Theology, University of Münster Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla – Epigenetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München – Hemato-Oncology, University Medical Center Freiburg 2024: – Experimental Solid State Physics, LMU Munich Tobias J. Erb – Synthetic Microbiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, and Marburg University Jonas Grethlein – Classical Philology, Heidelberg University Moritz Helmstaedter – Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main Ulrike Herzschuh – Geoecology, Alfred Wegener Institute, Potsdam, and University of Potsdam Eike Kiltz – Cryptography, Ruhr University Bochum Rohini Kuner – Neuropharmacology, Heidelberg University Jörn Leonhard – Modern and Contemporary History, University of Freiburg Peter Schreiner – Organic Molecular Chemistry, University of Giessen Eva Viehmann – Mathematics, University of Münster 2023: Lars T. Angenent – Bioengineering, University of Tübingen Claudia Höbartner – Biological Chemistry, University of Würzburg Achim Menges – Architecture, University of Stuttgart Sarah O'Connor – Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena Stefan Pfister – Paediatric Oncology, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hartmut Rosa – Sociology, University of Jena and University of Erfurt Georg Schett – Rheumatology, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg Catharina Stroppel – Pure Mathematics, University of Bonn – Bio- and Medical Informatics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technical University of Munich (TUM) – Romance Literary Studies, Free University of Berlin 2022: – Ecosystem Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – Law, Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Philosophy, Frankfurt am Main Iain Couzin – Behavioral Biology, Konstanz Eileen Furlong – Functional Genomics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) – Experimental Physics, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg Stefanie Dehnen – Inorganic Molecular Chemistry, Marburg University – Theoretical Physics, GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research and Technische Universität Darmstadt – Ancient History, University of Tübingen Karen Radner – Ancient Near Eastern Studies, LMU Munich Moritz Schularick – Economics, University of Bonn 2021: Asifa Akhtar – Epigenetics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg Elisabeth André – Computer Science, University of Augsburg Giuseppe Caire – Theoretical Communications Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin Nico Eisenhauer – Biodiversity Research, Leipzig University Veronika Eyring – Earth System Modelling, German Aerospace Center, Oberpfaffenhofen and University of Bremen Katerina Harvati – Palaeoanthropology, University of Tübingen and Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Tübingen Steffen Mau – Sociology, Humboldt University of Berlin Rolf Müller – Pharmaceutical Biology, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Saarland University Jürgen Ruland – Immunology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich (TUM) Volker Springel – Astrophysics, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Garching bei München 2020:Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Preis 2020, Retrieved 23 July 2020. Thorsten Bach – Chemistry, Technical University of Munich Baptiste Jean Germain Gault – Materials Science, Max Planck Institute for Iron Research Johannes Grave – Art History, University of Jena Thomas Kaufmann – Evangelical Theology, University of Göttingen Andrea Musacchio – Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology Thomas Neumann – Computer Science, Technical University of Munich Marco Prinz – Neuropathology, University of Freiburg Markus Reichstein – Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Dagmar Schäfer – History of Science, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Juliane Vogel – Literature, University of Konstanz
2019–2010 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2019:Leibniz-Preise 2019: DFG zeichnet vier Wissenschaftlerinnen und sechs Wissenschaftler aus , Retrieved 16 September 2019. Sami Haddadin – Robotics, Technical University of Munich Rupert Huber – Experimental physics, University of Regensburg Andreas Reckwitz – Sociology, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder) Hans-Reimer Rodewald – Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg Melina Schuh – Cell biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Karl Friedrich Bonhoeffer Institute), Göttingen Brenda Schulman – Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Martinsried Ayelet Shachar – Law and Political science, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Göttingen Michèle Tertilt – Economics, University of Mannheim Wolfgang Wernsdorfer – experimental Solid-state physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Matthias Wessling – Chemical reaction engineering, RWTH Aachen University and Leibniz-Institut für Interaktive Materialien (DWI), Aachen 2018: Jens Beckert – Sociology, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne Alessandra Buonanno – Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), Potsdam Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln – Economics, Goethe University Frankfurt Veit Hornung – Immunologie, Gene Center Munich, LMU Munich and Eicke Latz, Immunologie, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn Heike Paul – Amerikanistik, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg Erika L. Pearce – Immunologie, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg/Breisgau – Experimental Solid-state Physics, University of Göttingen Oliver G. Schmidt – Materials Science, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, Dresden and Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, Chemnitz University of Technology Bernhard Schölkopf – Machine Learning, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Tübingen László Székelyhidi – Applied Mathematics, Leipzig University
2017: Lutz Ackermann – Organic Molecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen Beatrice Gründler – Arabistics, Free University of Berlin Ralph Hertwig – Cognition Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Education Research Karl-Peter Hopfner – Structure Biology, LMU Munich Frank Jülicher – Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems Lutz Mädler – Mechanical Process engineering, University of Bremen Britta Nestler – Material science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Joachim P. Spatz – Biophysics, Max-Planck-Institute for Intelligent Systems and Heidelberg University Anne Storch – Africanistics, University of Cologne Jörg Vogel – Medical Microbiology, University of Würzburg
2016: Frank Bradke – Neuroregeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn Emmanuelle Charpentier – Infection Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin Daniel Cremers – Computer Vision, Chair of Informatics IX: Image Understanding and Knowledge-Based Systems, Technical University of Munich Daniel James Frost – Mineralogy/Experimental Petrology, University of Bayreuth Dag Nikolaus Hasse – Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy, University of Würzburg Benjamin List – Organic Molecular Chemistry, Department of Homogeneous Catalysis, Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, Mülheim an der Ruhr Christoph Möllers – Law, Chair of Public Law and Legal Philosophy, Humboldt University of Berlin Marina Rodnina – Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Karl Friedrich Bonhoeffer Institute), Göttingen Bénédicte Savoy – History of Modern Art, Center for Metropolitan Studies, Technische Universität Berlin Peter Scholze – Arithmetic Algebraic Geometry, Mathematical Institute, University of Bonn
2015: Henry N Chapman – Biological Physics/X-Ray Physics, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, and University of Hamburg Hendrik Dietz – Biochemistry/Biophysics, Technical University of Munich Stefan Grimme – Theoretical Chemistry, University of Bonn Christian Hertweck – Biological Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, and University of Jena Friedrich Lenger – Modern and Contemporary History, University of Giessen Hartmut Leppin – Ancient History, Goethe University Frankfurt Steffen Martus – Modern German Literature, Humboldt University of Berlin – Auditory Sensing/Otolaryngology, University of Göttingen
2014: Artemis Alexiadou – Linguistics, University of Stuttgart Armin von Bogdandy – Foreign public law and international law, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg Andreas Dreizler – Combustion research, Technische Universität Darmstadt Christof Schulz – Combustion and gas dynamics, University of Duisburg-Essen Nicole Dubilier – Marine ecology, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, and University of Bremen Leif Kobbelt – Informatics and computer graphics, RWTH Aachen University Laurens Molenkamp – Experimental solid-state physics, University of Würzburg Brigitte Röder – Biological psychology/neuro-psychology, University of Hamburg Irmgard Sinning – Structural biology, Heidelberg University Rainer Waser – Nanoelectronics/Materials science, RWTH Aachen University and Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI), Forschungszentrum Jülich Lars Zender – Hepatology/oncology, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
2013: