"I note with great pleasure that over the years there has not only been a steady increase in the number of prize-winners but also in the amount of attention received and the international renown of the Green Talents programme. In the meantime, this award is an internationally recognized prize for young researchers in the field of sustainability research.

The global sustainability goals can only be achieved through scientific cooperation and the exchange of knowledge. This calls for personal meetings between young scientists across national borders. Therefore, I warmly welcome this year's Green Talents in Germany."

A high-ranking jury of experts selected 25 ‘green’ visionaries out of over 800 applicants from more than 100 countries as "Green Talents 2014". This prestigious title was awarded for the sixth time under the patronage of the minister to some of tomorrow’s leading scientists in the field of sustainable development.

The awardees were invited to participate in the two-week "Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development", during which they visited top locations for sustainability research in Germany. Here, they gained a deeper insight into the country’s innovation system, learned about state-of-the-art approaches and technologies, and exchanged ideas with the country’s leading experts in individual meetings.