AI Special Prize at Jugend forscht: IU International University of Applied Scienes names national winner
Magnus Schlinsog (18) from Potsdam, Germany, wins the Artificial Intelligence Special Prize at the 61st national Jugend forscht competition with his AI language model for plain language
Magnus Schlinsog (18) from Potsdam, Germany, wins the Artificial Intelligence Special Prize at the 61st national Jugend forscht competition with his AI language model for plain language.
Herzogenaurach/Erfurt, 1 June 2026. For the first time, Jugend forscht, in collaboration with IU International University of Applied Sciences, is awarding a special national prize for artificial intelligence. The national prize winner is Magnus Schlinsog from Potsdam with his AI ‘Jacob’. With the help of artificial intelligence, the language model translates texts into Easy Language.
The 61st national award ceremony of the renowned school and youth competition took place from 28 to 31 May 2026 at Schaeffler AG in Herzogenaurach, for which 159 young researchers had qualified. In total, over 11,000 young researchers registered for Jugend forscht 2026 with more than 6,000 projects.
The AI Special Prize was presented to the winner by Prof. Dr Kamal Bhattacharya, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer at IU. Prior to this, the IU had already awarded 16 AI Special Prizes at the Jugend forscht regional competitions. The IU awards the Special Prize at national level with a cash prize of 1,000 euros, thereby specifically supporting young talents who use AI responsibly and whose projects deliver social added value.
AI Special Prize at the National Final for the ‘Jacob’ language model
With his project ‘Jacob’, winner Magnus Schlinsog developed an AI language model that uses artificial intelligence to convert texts into Easy Language. The aim is to make information more accessible to people who rely on language that is easy to understand. To achieve this, Schlinsog trained an existing model using prepared examples in Easy Language and verified the results, partly through feedback from the target group. The jury recognised the project as a particularly innovative example of the responsible and socially relevant use of artificial intelligence. Magnus Schlinsog had already impressed at regional level with his project, winning the AI Special Prize in Brandenburg. He is now building on this success. “On behalf of the IU, I warmly congratulate Magnus Schlinsog on this outstanding achievement,” says Prof. Dr Bhattacharya.
IU: Learning to work with AI as early as possible
As Germany’s largest University of Applied Sciences and a pioneer in integrating AI skills into degree programmes, IU is convinced that anyone who wants to shape the future must understand AI and be able to use it responsibly – in academia, in the workplace and beyond. For this reason, IU has been using the AI-powered learning companion Syntea since 2023 and systematically integrates AI skills into its university curricula using its proprietary Job Readiness Framework. “We see the added value of AI skills in students every day in our university operations. The sooner teenagers and young adults understand where AI helps them and in which tasks humans remain indispensable, the better – for themselves and their starting position when entering the workforce, but also for academic projects,” says Prof. Dr Bhattacharya.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION JUGEND FORSCHT E. V.
Jugend forscht is Germany’s best-known competition for young talent and a joint initiative of the federal government, the federal states, stern magazine, industry, academia and schools. Every year, Jugend forscht organises 130 competitions across Germany to inspire young people to take an interest in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (MINT), to identify talent at an early stage and to provide targeted support. Jugend forscht is aimed at children and young people up to the age of 21. Participants choose their own research question, which they tackle using scientific, technical or mathematical methods. Cash and non-cash prizes worth over one million euros are awarded in each round of the competition. The Jugend forscht network, with around 250 partners, is the largest public-private partnership of its kind in Germany. More than 5,000 teachers support Jugend forscht on a voluntary basis as project supervisors and competition organisers, whilst over 3,000 subject teachers, university lecturers and experts from industry serve on the judging panels.
For more information on Jugend forscht, visit: Jugend-forscht.de
With nearly 130,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution, based in Erfurt, began teaching in 2000 and now has 37 campuses. IU stands for maximum flexibility in study: whether through dual study, distance learning or on campus – students from over 160 nations tailor their educational path to suit their individual circumstances. With more than 200 degree programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and MBA level, IU imparts practical skills. Innovative learning concepts foster targeted, future-proof skills for an increasingly AI-driven world of work. A modern, digitally supported learning environment and the use of artificial intelligence enable effective, personalised learning. As a pioneer in this field, IU has developed its own digital learning companion, ‘Syntea’, which has been in use since 2023. A network of over 15,000 companies – including Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn – makes IU a strong partner in the training of skilled workers and consistently links academic teaching with practical experience. Further information at: iu.org
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