Science prize for Bayer employees

The Otto Bayer Medal

The Otto Bayer Medal recognizes the outstanding achievements of scientists at the Bayer Group. The medal is awarded for successful research contributions to new products, applications and innovative technologies.

The Spirit of Innovation at Bayer

The Otto Bayer Medal is presented every two years at the annual Bayer Science Day, which is attended by about 800 researchers. The wide spectrum of projects recognized by the award underlines the overriding importance of research at the Group.

The history of the medal
The Otto Bayer Medal is awarded in memory of the inventor of polyurethane chemistry and former Head of Research at Bayer AG, Professor Otto Bayer (no relation to the company founder), who died in 1982. Otto Bayer promoted intensive dialogue with higher education institutions and supported university education. A total of 528 researchers from the Bayer Group have received this medal since 1984.

The Otto Bayer Medal should not be confused with the Otto Bayer Award.

Overview of Award Winners of the Otto Bayer Medal

2014
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004

2014

Award winners from Bayer HealthCare (from left): Dr. Karl-Heinz Schlemmer, Dr. Christina Nowack, Dr. Peter Kolkhof, Dr. Sabine Gelfert-Peukert, Dr. Lars Baerfacker with Dr. Olivier Brandicourt (far left) and Kemal Malik (far right).

Award winners from Bayer CropScience (from left): Dr. Malcolm Faers, Dr. Konrad Kemper, Dr. Andreas Mehl, Rafael Pereira, Gottfried Stuetzer with Liam Condon (far left) and Kemal Malik (far right). — Award winners from Bayer HealthCare (from left): Dr. Karl-Heinz Schlemmer, Dr. Christina Nowack, Dr. Peter Kolkhof, Dr. Sabine Gelfert-Peukert, Dr. Lars Baerfacker with Dr. Olivier Brandicourt (far left) and Kemal Malik (far right).

In 2014 projects from Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience were honored. They range from an innovative drug for treating heart and kidney diseases to innovative crop protection solutions for soybeans and research on carbon dioxide as a new raw material in plastics manufacturing.

2012

The interdisciplinary team from Bayer’s pharmaceutical research unit in Finland has made essential contributions to improving the IUS platform. From left: Prof. Wolfgang Plischke, Pekka Lankinen, Jyrki Pihlaja, Tuula Valo, Dr. Manja Ahola, Dr. Marijn Dekkers.

The projects in which the 2012 winners of the Otto Bayer Medal are involved reflect the wide spectrum of research activities at Bayer. They range from innovative technologies for family planning through a resource-saving process for polymer production to a new herbicide for crops.

News release (PDF, 29 KB)

2010

The winning researchers with members of the Bayer Board of Management (center, left to right) Dr. Marijn Dekkers, Chairman Werner Wenning and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke.

Scientists at the Bayer Group were awarded the 2010 Otto Bayer Medal for a broad spectrum of research projects, ranging from innovative technologies for pharmaceutical research and new fungicides for plants through to a resource-saving process for plastics production.

News release (PDF, 32 KB)

2008

In 2008, Bayer Group scientists were awarded the Otto Bayer Medal for research projects on a wide variety of topics, ranging from innovative development candidates for cardiovascular indication to stress reduction in plants and soft-feel coatings.

News release (PDF, 53 KB)

2006

29 Bayer Group scientists have been honored with the Otto Bayer Medal in recognition of their outstanding achievements in seven research projects.

News release (PDF, 168 KB)

2004

“Successful and efficient research will be central to the future success of the company,” emphasized Bayer Management Board Chairman Werner Wenning at the Bayer Innovation Forum at which 16 Bayer research scientists were awarded the Otto Bayer Medal for outstanding scientific achievements.

News release (PDF, 112 KB)