Helmut-Schmidt-Zukunftspreis 2023

Hamburg, May 2. Finnish Social Democrat Sanna Marin is the recipient of this year’s Helmut-Schmidt-Zukunftspreis, which will be presented by the weekly newspaper Die Zeit, the Helmut Schmidt Foundation, and The New Institute on May 4, 2023, at the Thalia Theater in Hamburg. Since 2022, the award has honored innovative achievements in the fields of democracy, society, and technology. The 2022 winner was Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate.

Event recording

“The Helmut-Schmidt-Zukunftspreis goes to a trailblazing European woman with clear values and a distinctive political style. She has guided Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic with great effectiveness. Sanna Marin set out to improve the world, not simply to be a politician. That remains her standard. She has already shaped a new and effective political style, taken a firm stand against the Russian aggressor, and advanced climate protection. “In addition, this 37-year-old woman has great potential for the future—namely, to continue making her country, Europe, and the world a little safer, fairer, and greener with a clear-eyed view of reality,” said Uwe Jean Heuser, chairman of the Helmut-Schmidt-Zukunftspreis jury.

The prize is being awarded for the second time by the Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung, Die Zeit, and The New Institute and is endowed with 20,000 euros. The award ceremony will take place on May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Thalia Theater in Hamburg. The evening’s program will include contributions from Igor Levit, Giovanni di Lorenzo, and Peer Steinbrück, among others. ARD journalist Aline Abboud will moderate the event.

This year’s jury for the Helmut-Schmidt-Zukunftspreis consists of Alexander Birken (CEO of the Otto Group), Antje Boetius (Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute at the Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research), Francesca Bria (innovation economist), Christoph Gottschalk (Senior Advisor on Policy, Communications, and Leadership), Uwe Jean Heuser (Die Zeit), Igor Levit (pianist), Alaa Murabit (Director of Health at the Gates Foundation, UN Commissioner for Health, Employment, and Economic Growth, and UN Ambassador for the SDGs), Vanessa Nakate (climate activist), Erck Rickmers (entrepreneur and founder of The New Institute) and Meik Woyke (Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung).

As part of the Helmut-Schmidt-Zukunftspreis a Future Festival will take place for the first time this year, bringing together young future-shapers on May 3 and 4, 2023, on the campus of Leuphana University Lüneburg to explore responsible change and bring new ideas to the world. The central ideas of the Future Festival will be presented during the award ceremony on the stage of the Thalia Theater in the form of a poetry slam.