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Otto Bayer Medals awarded to top researchers
Former Bayer CEO Werner Wenning (center) with Chairman of the Board of Management Dr. Marijn Dekkers (9th from left), Board member Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke (6th from right) and the award-winning researchers.
Bayer Group scientists have received Otto Bayer Medals for their outstanding achievements in three research projects. These medals honor successful contributions from research into new products or applications and into innovative technologies. Werner Wenning, at the time still Chairman of the Bayer AG Board of Management, and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, the Board member responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment, presented the awards in the presence of new Bayer CEO Dr. Marijn Dekkers and around 800 researchers at Bayer Science Day.
“The achievements of our researchers and developers are a cornerstone of our international competitiveness,” said Wenning. He added that the award of the Otto Bayer Medals shows the tremendous importance Bayer places on research, saying that Bayer plans to spend some €3.1 billion for research and development in 2010 – more than any other company in the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Said Wenning: “The progress made with our new health care products, the promising pipeline candidates both in pharmaceuticals and in crop protection, and the new applications and technologies for our high-tech materials highlight Bayer’s innovative capability.”
Research projects from Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience, Bayer MaterialScience and Bayer Technology Services were honored. The projects reflect the wide spectrum of research activities at Bayer. They range from innovative technologies for pharmaceuticals research and new fungicides to protect food crops to a resource-saving process for plastics production. Wenning himself also received an award. Prof. Dr. Plischke presented him with the Otto Bayer Medal “honoris causa” in recognition of his keen support for research and development during his time as Group CEO.