Go-ahead for the Scientific Award 2007 * The BMW Group offers support worth EUR 70,000 to talented young researchers from all disciplines worldwide

Munich (Germany) 9th August (PROTEXT/ots) - The BMW Group is inviting youngacademics from all over the world to submit their entries for the prize forup-and-coming scientists - the Scientific Award 2007. The motto of theaward is “Passion for Innovation”, and prizes are presented to the authorsof outstanding Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral theses, regardless oftheir subject. The 2007 Award, with prizes worth a total of EUR 70,000,will be the ninth in the series so far. The closing date for entries is 7January 2007.

"The world is built on innovations; to have innovations, we need peoplewho, with creativity, curiosity and passion, forge ahead with revolutionarynew ideas. The Scientific Award serves to underline the importance ourcompany attaches to young academics’ spirit of inventiveness," says Prof.Dr. Dr. E.h. Burkhard Göschel, Member of the Board of Management of the BMWAG and patron of the Scientific Award 2007. The prize is seen as anintegral part of the ongoing dialogue between the BMW Group, industry andscience.

An application is only possible with the backing of the candidate’sacademic supervisor or professor. To be eligible for consideration, thetheses must have been written at and submitted to a university between 1January 2005 and 31 December 2006. The entries will be evaluated by aninternational, multidisciplinary jury whose members are drawn from thefields of research and industry. The jury’s decisions are made withreference to the following criteria: innovative potential, relation toreality, environmental and social benefit, theory, economic aspects andform of presentation. The authors of the six best scientific papers, alongwith their professors, will receive their prizes in the course of the AwardCeremony in autumn 2007.

The Scientific Award of the BMW Group has been presented every alternateyear since 1991; to date, 45 prize-winners and their respective professorshave received the award. Around 230 applicants from 26 countries and 24different faculties competed for the 2005 prize. The Award should be seenas more than merely a prize which is presented once and then forgotten. Itoffers young scientists access to an international, multidisciplinarynetwork in which they can exchange views both with each other and withrepresentatives of science and industry.

You can find more information and an application form for the ScientificAward 2007 of the BMW Group on the internet at:http://www.bmwgroup.com/scientific-award.

A high-resolution photo of the Scientific Award trophy is available fordownloading in the BMW Group PressClub at: http://www.press.bmwgroup.com;

Register Select Photo no. P0022283.

Should you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Manfred Grunert, AK-21, Technology Communications

Phone: +49-(0)89-382-27797, Fax: +49-(0)89-382-23927

Marc Hassinger, AK-30, Business and Finance Communications

Phone: +49-(0)89-382-23362, Fax: +49-(0)89-382-24418

Media Website: http://www.press.bmwgroup.com

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

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