“Young talents who are researching the positive and responsible use of artificial intelligence should be given special support. They are the future for Germany as a location for research and innovation,” says Dr. Kamal Bhattacharya, Pro-Rector for Research and Transfer and Professor of Computer Science at IU and patron of the university for the AI special prize at Jugend forscht. “We at IU are pleased to contribute to this by initiating a special AI prize together with Germany’s best-known competition for young talent.”
As Germany’s largest university, IU sees itself as a pioneer in the integration of artificial intelligence into studies and teaching. Since 2023, IU has been using the AI-supported learning companion Syntea, which accompanies over 90,000 distance learning students and trains them in the professional use of AI. With the Job Readiness Framework, IU has also recently created a framework for teaching that specifically prepares students for an AI-influenced job market
Award-winning AI projects with added value for research and society
With the foundation of the AI special prizes at Jugend forscht, IU particularly promotes young talents who see AI as a key interdisciplinary competence with their projects and make a contribution to society. 16 projects from the fields of technology, mathematics/computer science, earth and space sciences, the world of work, biology and chemistry have already met these criteria in the state competitions.
One example is the “Jacob” project by Magnus Schlinsog (18) from Humboldt-Gymnasium Potsdam. He developed an AI language model that masters the rules of “easy language” and thus makes it easier for people with learning difficulties to access AI applications. The project is a strong example of digital participation and education for all, a central concern of the IU. Magnus was awarded 1st prize in the field of mathematics/computer science in Brandenburg as well as a special prize for artificial intelligence.
Elena Reinhold (18) and Fiona Feike (17) from Eichsfeld-Gymnasium in Duderstadt conducted research on the project “Real, AI or lies? Artificial intelligence and its role in fake news” to find out how well people can distinguish between real news, AI-generated texts and fake news. A topic that was also recently researched at the IU: According to a representative IU study from 2025, 90 percent of respondents now consider fake news to be a serious threat to democracy and freedom. The development of media skills and the correct handling of disinformation are therefore an important concern for the IU. Elena and Fiona were awarded 2nd prize in the field of working life in Lower Saxony, the special prize for artificial intelligence and the special prize from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. These awards underline the high social relevance of the project.
“On behalf of the IU, I would like to congratulate all the state winners of Jugend forscht! It is impressive to see the depth of expertise with which young people are already investigating AI and have shown with their projects that their research can solve scientific, social and economic problems,” says Dr. Bhattacharya. “I am excited to see which of the numerous AI-related projects will take home the national title – the range is huge. I wish all participants every success!”
In total, over 11,000 researchers with more than 6,000 projects have registered for Jugend forscht 2026. The IU is endowing the AI special prize at the national final with 1,000 euros, for which all state winners in the respective subject areas have qualified.
Saxon AI special prize winner Jugend forscht 2026
“GROVER-fly: A language model for the genome of Drosophila melanogaster”, Kenny Löffler,
Mathematics/Computer Science
About the study
The study “Fact or Fake? Media Literacy in Germany” by IU International University deals with people’s trust in the media, the role of social media as well as fake news and deepfakes and their effects. For the IU study, 1,999 people in Germany between the ages of 16 and 65 were surveyed, representative by age and gender. The survey took place from April 14 to 25, 2025.
The full study is available at the following link: https://www.iu.de/forschung/studien/medienkompetenz/
About the Jugend forscht e. V.
Jugend forscht is Germany’s best-known competition for young researchers and a joint initiative of the federal government, the federal states, stern, industry, science and schools. Every year, Jugend forscht organizes 130 competitions across Germany to get young people interested in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (STEM), discover talent at an early stage and provide them with targeted support. Jugend forscht is aimed at children and young people up to the age of 21. Participants choose a question themselves, which they work on using scientific, technical or mathematical methods. Cash and non-cash prizes worth more than one million euros are awarded in each round of the competition. With around 250 partners, the Jugend forscht network is the largest public-private partnership of its kind in Germany. More than 5,000 teachers support Jugend forscht on a voluntary basis as project supervisors and competition managers, and over 3,000 specialist and university teachers as well as experts from industry are involved in the juries.
More information about Jugend forscht at: www.Jugend-forscht.de
ABOUT THE IU INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
With around 130,000 students, the IU International University (IU) is Germany’s largest university. The private, state-recognized educational institution based in Erfurt began teaching in 2000 and is now represented at 37 locations. The IU stands for maximum flexibility in studies: whether dual, distance learning or on campus – students from over 160 nations design their educational path individually according to their personal life situation. With more than 200 study programs in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and MBA fields, IU teaches practical skills. Innovative learning concepts promote targeted future skills for an increasingly AI-influenced working world. A modern, digitally supported learning environment and the use of artificial intelligence enable effective, personalized learning. As a pioneer in this area, IU has developed its own digital learning companion, Syntea, which has been in use since 2023. A network of over 15,000 companies – including Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn – makes the IU a strong partner in the training of skilled workers and consistently combines academic teaching with practice. Further information at: iu.de.
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Further links
👉 www.iu.de
Photo: Jugend forscht
