The Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz has welcomed 13 new members in their ranks, among them IBC2 Director Ivan Đikić. Đikić was in prominent company – BioNTech founders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Tureci were also amongst the new members announced. The Mainz Academy is one of Germany’s eight academies of science, its objectives are the cultivation of sciences and literature as well as preservation and promotion of culture. It is divided into three Classes: Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Literature and Music.

The Academy funds research projects across all disciplines, with a major focus of long-term basic research in the humanities. In addition, it is dedicated to promoting young researchers, digitizing research data and findings, and promoting international cooperation. 37 research projects of national scientific interest are currently ongoing. 
To foster scientific, interdisciplinary and societal discourse, sessions across all Classes, conferences, symposia and public lectures take place regularly. The Academy also honors outstanding scientific achievements and engagement with several awards, amongst them the Academy Award of Rhineland Palatinate, which was this year given to BioNTech founders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Tureci for their achievements in corona vaccine development.