Scientific Award of the BMW Group 2007
13 October 2006 – 10:44Scientific Award of the BMW Group 2007
The International Research Award.
Closing date for entries is 7 January 2007.
Scientific Award of the BMW Group – “Passion for Innovation”.
The Scientific Award starts again with its motto “Passion for Innovation”. The BMW Group invites university graduates from all over the world to enter their groundbreaking ideas in a bid [...]
Scientific Award of the BMW Group 2007
The International Research Award.
Closing date for entries is 7 January 2007.
Scientific Award of the BMW Group – “Passion for Innovation”.
The Scientific Award starts again with its motto “Passion for Innovation”. The BMW Group invites university graduates from all over the world to enter their groundbreaking ideas in a bid for the Scientific Award 2007. If you possess the passion to discover and research new things and the ability to process your discoveries in a scientifically convincing way, then you have an excellent chance. Submit your application. Closing date for entries is 7 January 2007.
The BMW Group has conferred the Scientific Award for outstanding final theses every other year since 1991. In accordance with the multidisciplinary principle of the prize, Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral theses from any discipline will be accepted. With prize money totalling EUR 70,000, it is one of the most valuable junior research awards. The prize is not only meant as a one-off distinction. It offers young scientists a network to establish a dialogue among themselves and with representatives from the worlds of business and science. As such, regular meetings between alumni and their professors take place in addition to the award ceremonies.
Entry
The internationally oriented Scientific Award is aimed at university graduates worldwide who have recently completed, or are about to complete, their final thesis or dissertation. Papers completed and submitted between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006 are or will be eligible for entry. In accordance with the multidisciplinary principle of the prize, theses from any discipline of diploma, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and also doctoral theses, will be accepted. Entry is only possible with the support and approval of the supervising professor of the department or institute to which the thesis was submitted. Theses which were written within or in collaboration with the BMW Group, which in any way have the BMW Group as their subject, or whose author was or is an employee of the BMW Group, will not be eligible for inclusion in the selection process.
Registration
Please submit the following documents in English or German for your application:
– the original application form (no copies or faxes, please), completed in full and signed by yourself and your thesis supervisor/professor,
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a letter of recommendation (approx. one page) with the original signature of your supervising professor, explaining in what way your thesis is innovative and distinctive,
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an abstract of your thesis, consisting of five pages in the case of Bachelor’s or Master’s theses and ten pages in the case of doctoral theses,
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your current curriculum vitae.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 7 January 2007 (date of postmark).
Please send your documents to the following P.O. box address:
BMW Group
Scientific Award/PZ-3
80788 Munich
Germany
The original paper may be in German, English or French. At this stage it is not necessary to submit the entire thesis; the complete set of entry documents detailed above including the abstract will be sufficient. Shortlisted entrants will be contacted directly by the jury and invited to submit their original Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral thesis.
Abstract of final dissertations
Entrants should be aware that the jury members will only read and evaluate the abstracts at first, and base their decision as to which papers will be shortlisted on their impressions. For this reason, please ensure that what makes your thesis innovative and distinctive forms the core of the abstract, and is recognisable at first sight. The jury will take the following criteria into account in their evaluation: the innovation potential, its relation to reality, the benefit for the environment and society, the theory, economic aspects and the form of presentation. Not all papers will be able to fulfil the given criteria in equal measure; in this case, it would be worthwhile to include an explanation as to why, for instance, a particular aspect is less relevant and therefore not examined in detail.
Innovation potential
In accordance with the prize’s motto, the innovation potential of the scientific papers submitted is the decisive criterion for the jury. The Scientific Award exists to reward up-and-coming researchers who have the courage to tread new, unknown paths. Innovation does not, however, mean simply altering existing scientific knowledge, but rather finding new and as yet untried approaches in order to answer the questions about the future. So if a contribution brings in new ways of thinking, processes, structures, models, products or solutions, it has a good chance.
Relation to reality
Even the most revolutionary vision is useless if it cannot make the transition from research to the real world outside. This is why the jury places great emphasis on a contribution’s relation to reality. With this in mind, all entries submitted are scrutinised to determine to what extent they are relevant to practical questions and based on real assumptions.
Benefit for the environment and society
To what extent do the research results contribute to the good of society? What advantages derive for the social environment? Are any environmental benefits created? These criteria are also taken into account by the jury when assessing the quality of the research projects in question. The greater the ecological and/ or socio-economic benefit, the more valuable an idea is as a potential Scientific Award winner.
Theory
Under the heading “theory”, the jury examines whether the theoretical background of an entry has been covered sufficiently and if it is in suitable proportion to its practical applications. The theoretical part of a contribution should meet the standards required of a scientific study and be presented in a comprehensible way.
Economy
An outstanding research result should take economic considerations into account. Does the product or process which has been developed allow savings of resources or costs? What competitive advantages does it give rise to? In the end, this criterion is decisive for the practical market suitability of the research results.
Form of presentation
The ability to convey complex phenomena in an easily understandable yet gripping manner is part and parcel of a contribution worthy of a prize. Therefore the presentation form is also relevant in abstract and main paper alike. The manner of presentation should be selected so as to do the subject in question justice. The written word can play a part in exciting the reader’s interest.
The final round
The authors of the ten best entries will be invited by the jury to present their results personally in Munich, Germany. The presentation may be in German or English.
Award Ceremony and Alumni Network
The Award Ceremony for the ninth Scientific Award will take place in Munich, Germany, in 2007. The awarding of the prizes to the winners and the professors who supervised them will represent the climax of this festive occasion. In the company of high-ranking guests from the fields of research, science, business and the press, prize-winners of yesterday and today will have the opportunity to make each others’ acquaintance, to talk and to celebrate. However, the award is not intended to be a one-off prize, but to provide access to a platform for young academics and their professors to exchange views. To this end, there are not just prize-giving ceremonies, but also regular meetings of alumni and their professors.
In case of any questions concerning entry, you can send an e-mail to
scientific.award@bmwgroup.com
Source : BMWGroup Site.
