The Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships are an “advance payment on good progress at Heidelberg University,” said University Rector Prof. Dr Bernhard Eitel at the ceremony to award the scholarship documents on 23 November 2022. Twelve students at the university can enjoy financial support. After the launch of the scholarship programme endowed by entrepreneur Dr Hans-Peter Wild last year, the scholarships have now been awarded for the second time. They support gifted young people with enthusiasm and motivation to study what are known as the MINT subjects.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Eitel praised Hans-Peter Wild as one of the “most loyal friends and supporters of Ruperto Carola” and congratulated the scholarship holders. He appealed to the students to take advantage of the many and varied opportunities offered by Heidelberg University: “Develop your own profile here!” As the founder was unable to attend, his greeting was read out. In it, Dr Wild emphasised that he would like to make a long-term contribution to attracting excellent students in the MINT subjects – among the best of their year – to Heidelberg University. He was pleased to note that interest in the scholarship had continued to rise. While last year saw approx. 150 young people applying for the fellowship, this year there had been more than 200 applicants, he said.

During the event, Prof. Dr Lavinia Heisenberg gave insights into her career as a scientist and her research area on gravitation. The physicist had herself studied in Heidelberg. After her research had taken her to locations all over the world, finally as a professor to ETH Zurich (Switzerland), she came back to Ruperto Carola last year – to teach and continue her research at the Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Afterwards, the scholarship holders received their certificates from University Rector Bernhard Eitel. Many of the students developed a great interest in their present subjects while still at school, and participated, for instance, in competitions such as “Jugend forscht” or the International Physics Olympiad. It turned out that they had deliberately chosen Heidelberg University as their place of study because of its good reputation, but also because of the broad range of subjects, offering multiple opportunities for interdisciplinary networking.

In the 2022/2023 winter semester, all twelve scholarship holders – seven women and five men – began their bachelor’s or master’s course at Heidelberg University in a MINT subject. Students from all five faculties in the MINT field are receiving support, including the new Faculty of Engineering Sciences. The students come from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey and Indonesia.

The Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship, with its monthly payment of 1,000 euros, is granted on a merit basis. Eligible to apply for the respective winter semester are outstanding prospective students from Germany and abroad who wish to complete a degree at Ruperto Carola in mathematics, computer science, one of the natural science disciplines or in the field of technology. The funding can be extended beyond two semesters after a successful test of talent and academic performance. The goal of the programme is ideally to support the scholarship holders until the end of their course of study. 25 students are currently receiving financial support, including the beneficiaries of the first funding round.

Entrepreneur and alumnus Hans-Peter Wild is involved in many different ways as a close friend, advisor and provider of generous endowments to Ruperto Carola, including as one of the group of benefactors of the Heidelberg Center for American Studies. In recognition of his long years of service to the promoting of research and teaching at Heidelberg University, the Senate in 1996 conferred on him the status of an honorary senator. Dr Wild’s great loyalty to his alma mater was also evident in his commitment during the fundraising campaign ZUKUNFT STIFTEN (fund the future) that ended in 2019. For example, he made funds available to attract outstanding scholars to Heidelberg University and also donated three million euros towards financing the new building of the European Institute for Neuromorphic Computing.