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Germany Awards National Prize to Biontech Founders Sahin and Türeci

Chancellor Friedrich Merz framed their vaccine success as a model for attracting skilled immigrants to sustain Germany’s innovation.

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Made in Germany: Ugur Sahin und Özlem Türeci mit Friedrich Merz bei der Verleihung des Deutschen Nationalpreises
Die beiden Biontech-Gründer Özlem Türeci und Ugur Sahin sind mit dem diesjährigen Deutschen Nationalpreis ausgezeichnet worden. Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU) würdigte den "außergewöhnlichen Mut" der Unternehmer.

Overview

  • On June 10, Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci received the 2025 German National Prize in Berlin for their contributions to medical research.
  • Merz commended their “extraordinary courage” in pioneering solutions and highlighted their Turkish heritage as a case for skilled immigration.
  • The award carries a €50,000 endowment and is granted annually by the German National Foundation, founded by Helmut Schmidt in 1993.
  • In 2020, the duo developed a COVID-19 vaccine in under a year and now focus on immunotherapies against cancer and neurological disorders.
  • Merz warned that excluding talent based on origin risks undermining Germany’s free society and its capacity for future breakthroughs.