What we recognise
Eligible entries include academic work as well as software systems, inventions and documented proposals – in German or English – that serve the humane use of IT and AI. We look for solutions, not just diagnoses.
An award by the Integrata Foundation · since 1999
Wolfgang Heilmann Award for the humane use of IT
Since 1999, the Integrata Foundation has honoured outstanding individuals and projects that place information technology and artificial intelligence in the service of people and improve quality of life in tangible ways.
About the award
Technology that serves people.
The Wolfgang Heilmann Award recognises work that makes a substantial contribution to improving quality of life through information technology. The emphasis is pragmatic: the award favours contributions that go beyond insight to offer concrete, realisable design proposals.
Who decides
The award is decided by a jury drawn from members of the Foundation's Supervisory Board, Advisory Board and Board. Additional experts are invited as guest jurors to match each year's theme.
Pragmatic
Concrete design proposals with clear practical relevance are at the centre.
Effective
The work makes a measurable contribution to improving quality of life.
Humane
People – not mere efficiency – stand at the heart of the application.
Realisable
Preference is given to contributions with a high degree of implementation or a clear path to it.
The namesake
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Heilmann
The award bears the name of the founder of the Integrata Foundation – a pioneer who asked early on how technology could serve humanity.
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Heilmann (1930–2022)
Donor · Founder · Honorary President
In 1964, Wolfgang Heilmann founded the company Integrata, which he later transformed into a public corporation and led as chairman for many years. What began as a working group for integrated data processing became one of Germany's best-known IT training institutions.
His vision went beyond the purely rational use of technology: throughout his life, Heilmann championed a humane design of information technology in which IT raises the quality of life for individuals and society alike. This idea remains at the core of the Integrata Foundation.
“IT should not only serve rationalisation, but enhance the quality of life of each individual.”About the founder
Laureates & history
The award history at a glance
Themes, awarded projects and laureates from past decades are collected in a dedicated chronological overview, keeping the history of the Wolfgang Heilmann Award accessible without overloading the current award page.
Next award: 2028
The next presentation of the Wolfgang Heilmann Award is planned for 2028. The specific theme has not yet been determined. As soon as the thematic focus and the terms of the call for entries are set, we will announce them here in good time.
Updates and changes regarding the award will be published on this website in good time.
Stay informed