On April 9, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities honored mobile communications visionary Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis for his technological achievements, which have had a major impact on society. He received the first-ever Pioneer Award, endowed with EUR 300,000, at the 2025 Bavarian High-Tech Awards.

The 2025 award winner

Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis has not only revolutionized mobile communications technology through his research, but he also shapes the academic and industrial environment in Germany and on an international level. The selection committee of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities were impressed by his technical expertise, the pioneering nature of his research results, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his drive for change and efficient implementation.

“This award is a special recognition for me – it underlines how important trustworthy technologies are for our networked society. In this context, trustworthiness is not a technical extra, but a prerequisite. This award encourages me to continue along this path in research,” says Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis.

Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis

Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis is a world-leading researcher in the field of mobile communications systems, is the Vodafone Chair of Mobile Communications Systems at TUD Dresden University of Technology and is the Scientific Director of the Barkhausen Institute, an independent research institute in the field of trustworthiness for a connected world. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced the development of mobile communications technologies, particularly in the area of 3G, 4G, 5G and 6G mobile communications standards. He is a pioneer in the development of methods for energy-efficient and reliable transmission of high data rates in mobile communications, such as for making highly automated driving safer, and has shaped innovative concepts such as the “Tactile Internet.” As part of 6G research, Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis is playing a leading role in reducing the energy consumption of mobile communications systems and is researching the joint use of mobile communications signals for communication and radar sensors. Moreover, he has founded numerous start-ups that transfer scientific results into commercial products, thus improving people's lives through new applications in areas such as mobility and smart cities.

Prof. Gerhard P. Fettweis has received numerous awards for his outstanding research achievements and has been accepted into academies such as the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the US National Academy of Engineering. He is actively involved in numerous other institutions, associations and committees. He advises the EU Commission in the fields of microelectronics and communication technology and regularly advises the German government on issues such as the expansion of the mobile communications network.

Pioneer Award: Recognition of innovation and benefit to our society

The Pioneer Award is donated by the Ulrich L. Rohde Foundation and promotes the transfer of excellent research into practice – for innovations with a lasting impact. “The award honors researchers whose work leads to innovative hardware and technical solutions that improve people's everyday lives,“ emphasizes the founder Ulrich L. Rohde, honorary member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

“By presenting the Pioneer Award, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities underlines the importance of science in the Bavarian and international context and accentuates topics of scientific and societal relevance,” Academy President Markus Schwaiger says. “I am delighted that the Academy is honoring Gerhard Fettweis, a telecommunications engineer, with the Pioneer Award this year. My warmest congratulations! Gerhard Fettweis is at the forefront of mobile communications in Germany and is particularly committed to the transfer of excellent research into products that shape our society!”

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