Foundation Festival celebrated in the Neubaukirche

Every year, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) commemorates its long tradition with its foundation festival: the foundation by Prince-Bishop Johann I von Egloffstein in 1402 and the renewal of the foundation in 1582 by Prince-Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn. The festival was celebrated on 11 May 2026 in the Neubaukirche.

Minister Blume: "University has presented itself in top form"

The welcome address by University President Paul Pauli was followed by a video greeting from Bavarian Science Minister Markus Blume.

Among the birthday presents that JMU had given itself, the Minister also counted the "first accolade" in the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments: The University brought two Clusters of Excellence to Würzburg - and thus the authorisation to apply for the title of University of Excellence.

Blume was in close contact with JMU until the Würzburg application for excellence was assessed by an international committee in mid-April 2026. "And I have to say: you presented yourselves in top form during the review - the Würzburg spirit was palpable. Chapeau!"

President Pauli: "The Würzburg spirit was palpable"

University President Paul Pauli also referred to the application for excellence in his speech (pdf).

The inspection of the university by the reviewers was an exciting and emotional final point: "This was an extraordinary joint effort by our entire university - by academics, students, administrative, technical and service staff, committee members, faculties, deans, central institutions and many others involved."

The Würzburg spirit mentioned by the Minister was indeed palpable: "The openness in the exchange, the great identification with our university, the willingness to work together across disciplinary boundaries and the common will to further develop our university."

Whether Würzburg's application for excellence is successful will be revealed on 2 October 2026. Regardless of the outcome of the procedure, the entire process was important for JMU. "We have recognised our strengths and weaknesses and sharpened our profile so that we now have a clear plan for how we want to shape our future as a comprehensive university," said the President.

DFG President Becker: Resilience at universities

Professor Katja Becker, President of the German Research Foundation, gave the keynote speech on the topic of "Universities as spaces of resilience". Katja Becker is an alumna of the university: she headed an independent junior research group at the Centre for Infection Research here at the turn of the millennium. The DFG Press Office will publish her speech on the DFG website in the coming days.

Honours and Medals of Merit

JMU honoured several personalities at the 2026 Foundation Festival.

Honorary Senator: Dr Eugen Ehmann

The new Honorary Senator is the former District President of Lower Franconia, Dr Eugen Ehmann. The University thus honours his services to the state, law and society as well as his impulses for the development of JMU. Laudatory speech...

Honorary citizen: David Brandstätter

David Brandstätter, the long-standing chairman of the Universitätsbund, was awarded honorary citizenship in recognition of his services to media and communication, society and science. Laudatory speech...

Julius-Maximilians Medals of Merit

The Julius-Maximilians Medals of Merit for outstanding achievements were awarded to:

• Gisela Müller-Brandeck-Bocquet, political scientist and long-standing JMU Professor of European Studies and International Relations. Laudatory speech...
• Gerhard Sextl, chemist and long-standing head of the JMU Chair of Chemical Technology of Material Synthesis and the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC Würzburg. Laudatory speech...
• Dr Bernd-Stefan Vorderobermeier, lawyer and long-standing head of the Department of Studies and Teaching in JMU's central administration. Laudatory speech...

Baldwin and Inge Knauf awards

The "Baldwin and Inge Knauf Prizes for excellent scientific achievements" were also awarded. The entrepreneur couple Knauf donated the prizes, each endowed with 50,000 euros, in 2024; they are awarded annually in four categories: Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences.

The prizes went to:

• Dr Erik Frank (Biology), who was unable to attend the award ceremony
• Junior Professor Anton Freund (Mathematics)
• Junior Professor Mona Garvert (Neuroscience)
• Professor Christof Weiß (Music Research)

JMU Vice President Caroline Kisker gave the laudatory speech. She also thanked the Knauf donors: "You are supporting us in our endeavours to attract the best minds to Würzburg and keep them here".

In his speech, Baldwin Knauf said that his wife and he wanted to strengthen the excellence of the university with the awards. In the current global crises, Germany needs advanced research and new technologies. "Everyone can contribute to solving the problems; we all need to do more. Let's develop big ideas and take them to the outside world," he appealed.

No prizes from the memorial year foundation

For the first time, the joint doctoral prizes of the Lower Franconian Memorial Year Foundation for Science and the University of Würzburg were not awarded at the foundation celebration: Instead, the award-winning doctoral candidates will receive their certificates at the Röntgen Gala on 1 December 2026, which the University is hosting to mark the 125th anniversary of the award of the first Nobel Prize.

Musical programme

University carillonneur Jürgen Buchner and the Silvaner Quartet as an ensemble from and accompanied by the Academic Orchestra of the University of Würzburg in chamber orchestra formation under the overall coordination and direction of Markus Popp provided the musical programme for the ceremony.