The “Forcheurs Prize” recognizes promising Franco-German research teams to encourage them to continue and deepen their collaboration. Since its launch in 2016, it has focused on the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and the interface between chemistry and health. The award is presented by Jean-Marie Lehn, winner of the 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and patron of the award. Each researcher in the winning team receives a prize of 10,000 euros from BASF France and Sanofi Deutschland, and the award ceremony is co-organized by the SST and the Franco-German University.
For the tenth edition, the Office for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Germany is organizing an event to review and celebrate the program—an opportunity to discuss current Franco-German cooperation in the fields covered by the Forcheurs Prize, to share information on the laureates’ careers, and to pay a special tribute to Jean-Marie Lehn.
For this tenth edition, the Office for Science and Technology has invited previous years’ laureates as well as Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn, for his last participation.
Event Program
17:30 Doors open (Pariser Platz 5)
18:00 Welcome address by H.E. Ambassador François DELATTRE
18:05 Statement by Prof. Philippe GRECIANO, President of the Franco-German University
18:10 Keynote Speech by Prof. Jean-Marie LEHN, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, patron of the Forcheurs Prize
Tribute to Prof. Jean-Marie LEHN
18:20 Fireside chat with 4 awardees of the Forcheurs prize
Prof. Dr Maximilian REICHERT & Dr. Julie GUILLERMET-GUIBERT, Prix Forcheurs 2017
Prof. Dr. Sabine LIEBSCHER & Dr. Caroline ROUAUX, Prix Forcheurs 2024
Moderation: Siegfried MARTIN-DIAZ, Counsellor for Science and Technology
18:40 Announcement of the new configuration of the prize between the French Embassy in Germany (H.E. Ambassador François DELATTRE), the Franco-German University (Prof. Philippe GRECIANO), Sanofi Deutschland (Heidrun IRSCHIK-HADJIEFF) and Siemens AG (Andrew WHYTOCK)
Moderation: Siegfried MARTIN-DIAZ, Counsellor for Science and Technology
19:00 Roundtable “Digital Health – a Momentum for the Franco-German Science and Innovation Cooperation”
Speakers: Prof. Dr. Ariel STERN, Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Digital Health, Economics and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute and Full Professor at the University of Potsdam
Dr. Sarah ZOHAR, Research Director at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research – INSERM
Heidrun IRSCHIK-HADJIEFF, President of Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
Andrew WHYTOCK, Head of Digitalization, Siemens AG
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Andrea VON HÜLSEN-ESCH, Vice-President of the Franco-German University
20:00 Cocktail reception, Résidence de France
21:30 End of the event
The event will be held in English.
Crédits photo : Monique Ulrich, Ambassade de France en Allemagne
Mise à jour : SST, 12 juin 2026
