BMW Group encourages young people' s passion for research with award of 70,000 euros

The announcement of the international Scientific Award 2003 foruniversities has started. The blue-white mobility companyinvites creative minds all over the world to take part..

Munich 19. 8. 2002 (PROTEXT/ots) - Munich. The call toparticipate in the BMW Group's seventh Scientific Award has beenissued. This year, the motto for the international researchprize is "Passion for Innovation" - in other words, a passion forideas for tomorrow. Now that the green light has been given,university graduates and up-and-coming scientists from all overthe world will have the opportunity, until 10 March 2003, tosubmit their final dissertations to the BMW Group via theiruniversity departments. The scientific works will then beassessed by a well-qualified jury and prizes worth a total of70,000 euros will be awarded.

"Research is the simple pleasure of finding out somethingthat one did not know before", said the atomic physicist andphilosopher Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsaecker. "The BMWGroup has undertaken the task of maintaining and encouragingthis passion for research. With the Scientific Award, we areencouraging young people to tackle hitherto unsolved questions,develop new ideas and thus discover fascinating solutions ",states Dr. Burkhard Goeschel, Development Director and patron ofthe Scientific Award BMW Group 2003.

Up-and-coming scientists in all disciplines are in demandworldwide In line with its interdisciplinary character, theScientific Award is open to university graduates and up-and-coming scientists of all disciplines. Contributions from thenatural sciences, engineering, information technology, medicineand information science are as welcome as works from the worldsof economics, the arts or the law.

To enter, the graduate researchers and young scientists mustsubmit their dissertations, MA studies or doctoral theses with a"Passion for Innovation"; the works must have been completedbetween 1 January 2001 and 28 February 2003. The final date forsubmission of the outline, CV and participation declarationsigned by the appropriate departmental professor is 10 March2003.

An international jury made up of representatives fromuniversities, science, business and industry will assess andselect the works submitted according to the criteria of"thematic relevance", "level of innovation", "usefulness tosociety and the environment" and "economic viability". The awardswill be presented to the winners of the Scientific Award BMWGroup in November 2003.

Looking back Since 1991, 33 young scientists have beenpresented with the BMW Group's Scientific Award and prize moneytotalling 550,000 euros. During these eleven years, theScientific Award has spread far beyond the borders of Germany tobecome an internationally recognised research prize. In 2001, forexample, young researchers from more than 20 countriesparticipated in the competition.

Partnership is important With the Scientific Award, however,the BMW Group is not only promoting new academic talent; it isalso, through the close partnership with universities andresearch institutions, encouraging a dialogue between business,science and society at the same time. The BMW Group also intendsto continue to promote this dialogue with universities andresearch institutions intensively in the future.

You will find detailed information on the Scientific AwardBMW Group 2003 and participation conditions online at:www.bmw.com/scientific-award. You can download a fotograph of theaward under: www.press.bmwgroup.com

ots Original Text Service: BMW Group Internet:http://www.presseportal.de

Michael Blabst, AK-21, Technologiekommunikation, Produktionund Forschung Telephone: 089-382-24697, Fax: 089-382-27563

Dr. Tobias Nickel, AK-21, Technologiekommunikation Telephone:089-382-27072, Fax: 089-382-25763

Media Website: www.press.bmwgroup.com e-mail: presse@bmw.de

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