Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize Pioneering Work in the Field of Neuromorphic Photonic Computing
20 March 2025
Wolfram Pernice receives Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize of the German Research Foundation
With Prof. Dr Wolfram Pernice, an outstanding scientist at Heidelberg University has received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize of the German Research Foundation (DFG) – the most important research award in Germany, which comes with prize money of 2.5 million euros. The goal of Prof. Pernice’s research in the field of integrated photonics is to develop new methods for information processing and rapid computation using light. The experimental physicist’s research on neuromorphic photonic computing is pioneering, the DFG emphasizes. A total of ten awards were presented during a ceremony held in Berlin on 19 March 2025 attended by the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Cem Özdemir.
Rector Prof. Dr Frauke Melchior: “We are delighted at the award and proud that, with Wolfram Pernice, it honors an internationally recognized researcher at the university. The prize is also evidence of the research prowess of our natural sciences, which are notable for their multiple interdisciplinary networks.” Prof. Pernice, who has been professor of experimental physics at Heidelberg University since 2021, heads the research group “Neuromorphic Quantum Photonics” at the Kirchhoff Institute for Physics.
Wolfram Pernice’s research is taking us one step closer to fulfilling the dream of intelligent matter.
Prof. Dr Katja Becker, President of the German Research Foundation
“To transfer the unique capabilities of the human mind to inanimate matter was famously one of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz’s great life projects. Wolfram Pernice’s research is taking us one step closer to fulfilling this dream of intelligent matter”, emphasized Prof. Dr Katja Becker. His work, which is based on neural information processing, is setting “standards globally”, the DFG President added. The Heidelberg scientist demonstrates “just how short the path from knowledge-driven basic research to application can be if looked at with the creative and constructive eye of an engineer who not only recognizes but also realizes interdisciplinary synergies between physics, biology, materials science and computer science”.
In his research group, Wolfram Pernice investigates neural networks using light instead of electrons. Here he links optical methods of physical data processing with parallel calculations that are essential for implementing artificial intelligence. “His research results point the way to innovative, sustainable methods for reducing energy consumption of AI computer hardware and still enabling rapid calculations. Furthermore, he is known worldwide as a pioneer in the field of integrated quantum photonics,” the German Research Foundation states in recognition of his work.
Up to ten Leibniz Prizes are awarded annually by the DFG. Prof. Dr Katja Becker, President of the German Research Foundation, presented the awards for 2025 to four female and six male researchers during a festive ceremony. In addition to Prof. Pernice, the awardees also include mathematician Prof. Dr Angkana Rüland, who taught and did research at Heidelberg University from 2020 to 2023. The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes were awarded for the 40th time. With the Leibniz anniversary, the DFG “is not only celebrating four decades of cutting-edge research in Germany, but also the principle of free and curiosity-driven science.”