Agricultural Technology Excellence Doctoral Thesis Prize (AgTEx)

The Agricultural Technology Excellence Doctoral Thesis Prize honors outstanding international doctoral candidates in the field of agricultural engineering and agricultural mechanization. Sponsored by the CLAAS Foundation, the prize awards a financial recognition of €5,000 every two years as well as an invitation to the formal award presentation. The aim is to promote innovative research projects and advance the development of pioneering technologies in agriculture. The award offers recipients not only financial freedom for further project work but also the opportunity to network with experts from research and practice and to present their results to an international audience.

Eligible to participate are all internationally enrolled doctoral candidates who have successfully completed the first year of their dissertation in the field of agricultural engineering or agricultural mechanization. Applications must be submitted in English and include a concise summary of the current project status (maximum three pages), a detailed project plan for completion, a curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining future research goals and intended use of the prize money, as well as a letter of recommendation from the supervisor. Selection is based on criteria such as degree of innovation, international relevance, validation of the central concept, methodological quality, interdisciplinary orientation, and the applicant’s commitment. The deadline for submitting all documents by email is June 29, 2026. With this prize, the CLAAS Foundation sends a strong signal for the promotion of young scientists in agricultural engineering.