Twenty-eighth year of the competition; 512 scientific talents awarded since its inception
Record share of women among awardees – 36%
A total of 662 submissions; 39% submitted by women (an increase of the historical maximum by 2 percentage points)
Most submissions in the fields of chemistry – 19%, physics – 15%, and medicine – 12%
Charles University received the highest number of awards: 8
For the second year in a row, more doctoral theses were submitted than master’s theses: 285 submissions (vs. 246 in 2025)
Since the beginning of the competition, CZK 18.5 million has been awarded to winners
Siemens Czech Republic has presented the Werner von Siemens Awards 2025 to the best students, young scientists, and educators. Expert juries selected the winning works in technical and natural science disciplines in the following categories: Best Basic Research Result, Best Master’s Thesis, Best Doctoral Thesis, and Best Educator. In addition to the students, the supervisors and advisors of the winning works also receive a financial award. Special recognitions were also granted for outstanding quality of women’s scientific work and for graduate theses addressing topics related to Industry 4.0 as well as smart infrastructure and energy.
Expert juries evaluated 662 submissions, and 22 awardees shared a total prize of CZK 1 million. Women accounted for 39% of all applicants and represent 36% of the awardees. The highest number of awards went to Charles University (8 awards), followed by the Czech Academy of Sciences (4 awards), the Czech Technical University in Prague and VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (3 awards each), Masaryk University (2 awards), and Brno University of Technology and the University of Pardubice (1 award each). Since the competition was launched, a total of CZK 18.5 million has been distributed among awardees.
“The award-winning works and personalities of the 28th Werner von Siemens Awards demonstrate the outstanding quality of our technical and natural science universities. We live in a time when boundaries are being defined and redrawn: geographic, value-based, and moral. In this context, the importance of science is growing, because science knows no boundaries. On the contrary, science and research connect people – their clarity, evidence-based results, and universality transcend all borders. This year’s winning works are a great example: from breakthrough materials for nuclear fusion to intelligent collaboration between robots and humans or new methods for fighting cancer. These are topics that shape our future. Their research is not only a scientific contribution but also proof that working together to find solutions can overcome all boundaries,” said Eduard Palíšek, CEO of Siemens Czech Republic.
The Werner von Siemens Award for the most significant result in basic research was presented to a team led by Assoc. Prof. Martin Kozák, Ph.D., from Charles University for the work Correction of spherical aberration in electron lenses using shaped light waves. The awarded research focuses on developing methods that allow advanced and precise control of electrons using shaped light waves. Controlled acceleration or deceleration of electrons can then be used to correct spherical aberration in electron microscope imaging.
In the category of Best Doctoral Thesis, which also includes the award for outstanding quality of women’s scientific work, the prize was awarded to Mgr. Adéla Šimková, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Science at Charles University for her chemistry thesis titled Design, synthesis and characterization of new fibroblast activation protein inhibitors for targeting tumor tissue. Traditional cancer treatments, whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy, unfortunately affect not only tumor cells but also healthy cells. Identifying the differences between cancerous and healthy cells and using these differences for precise targeting of treatment is therefore one of the most important scientific challenges currently being addressed worldwide. During her doctoral studies, Adéla Šimková developed a new compound that enables precise tumor localization for future targeted drug delivery. She believes it is important to highlight positive examples and avoid unconstructive lamenting that could discourage other women. However, the data speak clearly: as academic ranks increase, women tend to disappear from science, and this issue requires a systematic solution.
The Werner von Siemens Award for Best Master’s Thesis was presented to Mgr. Dominika Bezdeková from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University for her chemistry thesis titled MALDI(-2) MS imaging of lipid isomers differing in double-bond position in biological tissue samples. Dominika Bezdeková improved the ozonolysis method used to determine the position of double bonds in lipids through a reaction with ozone combined with mass spectrometry. The results may contribute to a better understanding of the biological functions of lipids in the human body and their role in disease development.
For the first time in the history of the awards, the Werner von Siemens Award for Best Educator in 2025 was presented to a teacher from the Faculty of Restoration at the University of Pardubice, MgA. Zuzana Wichterlová. She received the award for her high level of professionalism in teaching and her exceptional effort to connect education with practical application. Her activities span multiple disciplines – from technology and technical processes through craftsmanship to art. For students, she represents a model of a modern interdisciplinary approach applied in the practical care of tangible cultural heritage and an inspiration in connecting visual and artistic disciplines with the humanities and material sciences.
The award for the Best Master’s Thesis addressing Industry 4.0 topics was presented to Ing. Elizaveta Isianova from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague for her thesis Estimating object grasp positions using multimodal models. The award for the Best Doctoral Thesis addressing Industry 4.0 topics was presented to Ing. Jakub Rozlivek, Ph.D., also from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague, for his work Perception and safety in close human–robot interaction.
The award for the Best Master’s Thesis focusing on smart infrastructure and energy went to Ing. Tomáš Fryšták from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication at Brno University of Technology for his thesis Analysis of the operation of converter-fed traction power supplies of the 25 kV / 50 Hz system in ancillary services mode. The Best Doctoral Thesis addressing smart infrastructure and energy was awarded to Ing. Vojtěch Blažek, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava for his work Optimization in SMART GRID.
About the Werner von Siemens Award competition
The Werner von Siemens Awards have been organized for 28 years by Siemens Czech Republic in partnership with leading representatives of universities and the Czech Academy of Sciences, who also act as guarantors of individual categories and participate in evaluating the best works. This year, 56 experts and representatives of the academic community served on independent juries. In terms of its scope, prize money, and history, the Werner von Siemens Awards represent one of the most significant independent initiatives of its kind in the Czech Republic.
The 28th edition of the awards was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Partners of the competition include Siemens Mobility s.r.o., Siemens Foundational Technologies, and Zátiší Group.
Complete results can be found here.
