Heinz König Award

Profile of the Heinz König Award

Since 2004, ZEW has annually presented the Heinz König Award, endowed with 5,000 euros, for outstanding scientific work. Instead of adding to the multitude of prizes for established researchers, ZEW’s intention is to specifically promote young academics with this award. It is aimed at young economists under the age of 35 who have been able to make a demonstrable impact in their field of research with their research and who strive for a widespread knowledge transfer of their results. The award, whose thematic focus changes annually, is sponsored each year by a different, theme-related company from the ZEW Sponsors’ Association. From the large number of papers submitted, an external jury selects the best scientific papers, whose authors are invited to Mannheim where they can discuss their work with other young economists and renowned researchers. The best submitted paper will be honoured with the Heinz König Award at a conference at ZEW Mannheim.

Heinz König

Who was Heinz König?

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Heinz König is the scientific founding father of ZEW Mannheim. As one of the leading economists in Germany, he was instrumental in establishing the research institute and helped ZEW achieve its current status in the international research landscape. He led the institute from its foundation in 1991 until 1997. König’s high scientific reputation, his experience as a science manager and his talent for identifying committed and scientifically talented staff had a lasting impact on ZEW. Even after his retirement as scientific director in 1997, he remained closely associated with the institute as an advisor on scientific and strategic issues until his death in 2002.

After studying economics, earning his doctorate at the University of Mainz and completing his habilitation at the University of Münster, König’s academic career led him to the USA, where he was a Rockefeller Fellow at MIT, Harvard University and Stanford University. In 1962, he was appointed professor by the University of Mannheim, to which he remained loyal until his retirement in 1996. Among other positions, he was dean of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, director of the Institute for Economics and Statistics and rector of the University of Mannheim from 1979 to 1982. König is considered one of the pioneers of empirical economic research and econometrics in Germany and has influenced generations of scientists. He was member of numerous scientific and economic policy committees at national and international level. In addition to research and teaching, the transfer of knowledge of research results and scientifically sound policy advice were of particular concern to him. He received countless awards for his work, including the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class and an honorary doctorate from the University of Tübingen.

Award Winners