Announcing the 2025 Freiburg Innovation Award
In the heart of southwestern Germany, the vibrant city of Freiburg recently celebrated the 2025 edition of the Freiburg Innovation Prize. This annual event, which recognises and rewards outstanding achievements in technology, sustainability, digitalisation, and craftsmanship, has become a significant beacon for innovation in the region.
This year, two special prizes of 3,000 euros each were donated by the Industry and Commerce Chamber of the Southern Upper Rhine and the Freiburg Chamber of Crafts, further emphasising the importance of innovation in the city's growth and development.
The Freiburg Innovation Prize serves multiple purposes, primarily encouraging innovation, promoting regional development, and fostering collaboration. By supporting local innovation, these prizes can contribute to the economic growth and reputation of a region, such as Freiburg. They also often require or encourage collaboration between different stakeholders, including academia, industry, and government, which can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions.
One of this year's special prize winners was Möbelschreinerei Johannes Wittich from Freiburg, for the innovative "Freiburger Bächle Bridge," an experiential and experimental toy that enhances the city center and carries local significance and symbolic power.
Another notable winner was KOCH Freiburg GmbH, which received the special prize of the IHK Südlicher Oberrhein for "KochGPT," an AI-powered 360° assistant for trade professionals, improving processes in consultation, product search, and support on the B2B portal of KOCH Freiburg.
The main prize, worth a total of 11,000 euros, was jointly donated with the medical technology company Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG. The winners included Alithea Biotechnology GmbH for "HLA-Compass," a B2B platform with HLA peptides for biopharma, Grünhof 3000 GmbH and Brauerei Ganter GmbH & Co. KG for the "Freiburger Bierle" project, and re-lounge GmbH for "Purement," an innovative cloud software tool for analyzing and reducing the carbon footprint of websites, e-shops, and apps.
The Freiburg Innovation Alliance Foundation, a key supporter of the event, operates the BioTechPark Freiburg in Engesser Street and supports founders and young companies, particularly in the fields of Health & Life Science, Sustainability & Resilience, and Digitalization, AI & Robotics. The Foundation is backed by the City of Freiburg, the University of Freiburg, the University Hospital Freiburg, the Industry and Commerce Chamber of Southern Upper Rhine, the Economic Association of Industrial Companies Baden e.V. (WVIB), the Crafts Chamber Freiburg, Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau, Volksbank Freiburg, and Badenova.
The Freiburg Innovation Prize 2025 was awarded on July 14, 2025, at the S-Finance Center of Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau, marking another successful year in celebrating and promoting innovation in the region. As the city continues to thrive, the Freiburg Innovation Prize will undoubtedly remain a crucial catalyst for technological, sustainable, and digital innovation in the years to come.
- The innovative AI-powered 360° assistant for trade professionals developed by KOCH Freiburg GmbH, called KochGPT, is a significant contribution to technology in the field of business and finance.
- Alithea Biotechnology GmbH, one of the main prize winners, is utilizing science in the health-and-wellness sector with their B2B platform HLA-Compass, which provides HLA peptides for biopharma.
- The Freiburg Innovation Alliance Foundation, a key supporter of the event, focuses on promoting and encouraging innovation in the areas of Health & Life Science, Sustainability & Resilience, and Digitalization, AI & Robotics, which aligns with the broader technologies driving progress in the region.
