aAgainst the Trend - BMW Group Scientific Award with Record Turn-Out

MUNICH (Germany) 20. 5. 2003 - (ots/PROTEXT) - The result isreally remarkable: more than 200 studies submitted fromparticipants in 12 countries, with no less than 11 entries fromIndia alone. The BMW Group Scientific Award clearly proves thatthey are still around - those creative individuals who move theworld. Pursuing a constant process of innovation, it is thesehigh-flyers who create progress, movement and, not least, jobs.

Whilst some scientific prizes and contests are strugglingagainst a declining number of entries, the BMW Group ScientificAward, under the motto of "Passion for Innovation", is proud toreport the best result in its history now dating back 14 yearsto 1989.

The BMW Group Scientific Award was established in order topromote outstanding ideas and talents and has been presented sofar to 33 up-and-coming scientists. "Through the BMW GroupScientific Award we promote young people who take up questionsnot answered so far, develop new ideas, and discover thrillingsolutions in the process", states BMW Board Member DevelopmentDr. Burkhard Göschel, under whose patronage the BMW GroupScientific Award is being held once again in 2003.

With a total of Euro 70,000.- in prize money, the ScientificAward is among the most rewarding international research prizeswith young, up-and-coming scientists from all over the worldbeing called upon to submit their diploma, master or doctor'sstudies under the motto of "Passion for Innovation" by 10 March2003. The Scientific Award was open for papers in science andengineering, information technology, medicine and informationscience, as well as studies in economic science, the humanities,or legal faculties.

The ongoing increase in the number of entrants in theScientific Award and the share of entries from outside Germanynow amounting to almost 50 per cent proves that the motto of"Passion for Innovation" really moves and arouses the interestof young, up-and-coming scientists.

In the months to come the scientific studies will be examinedand selected by an international jury comprisingrespresentatives of universities, the world of science, businessand industry, applying the relevance of the respective study,the degree of innovation, the benefit to the environment andsociety, and economic aspects as the essential criteria.

The prizewinners ceremony will be held in November on theoccasion of a two-day Scientific Convention in Schloss Elmausouth of Munich.

Further information on the BMW Group Scientific Awarad isavailable on http://www.bmwgroup.com/scientific-award

You will find a debate on passion for scientific research andinnovation as a special phenomenon of human life with theChairman of the Scientific Award Jury, Prof. Dr. techn. Dr. e.h.Franz Pischinger, the former Vice-President of the GermanResearch Society (DFG), in the BMW Group Science Club underhttp://www.bmwgroup.com/scienceclub

The Scientific Award photo is available underhttp://www.press.bmwgroup.com

Photo No. P0001132

For questions please contact: Corporate CommunicationsMichael Blabst, AK-21, Technology Communications, Production andResearch Tel: ++49/89-382-24697, Fax: ++49/89-382-27563 Dr.Tobias Nickel, AK-21, Technology Communications Tel: ++49/89-382-27072, Fax: ++49/89-382-25763 Media website:www.press.bmwgroup.com E-mail: presse@bmw.de

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