Road of education

We would like to accompany you on your doctoral journey.

Do you feel passionate about agricultural engineering? The Agricultural Technology Excellence Doctoral Thesis Prize is aimed at dedicated international doctoral candidates of agricultural mechanization. If you are a doctoral candidate in your second year of your dissertation, please read on and apply.

Application

Do not miss your chance and apply for the AgTEx Doctoral Thesis Prize.

The prize in detail

The bi-annual AgTEx Doctoral Thesis Prize is awarded to doctoral students with a focus on agricultural engineering:

Are you a doctoral student who has completed the first year of your project?
Are you working on technology related to the field of agricultural engineering?

Then we are looking for applications for the AgTEx Doctoral Thesis Prize 2026.

The closing date for application is the 29th June 2026.

The prize has a value of 5.000 Euro for free use by the successful applicant. Next to the financial recognition, the winning candidate will also be invited to the annual Award Presentation of the CLAAS Foundation and to become involved in other foundation initiatives.

What is the application process?

The application submission consists of a summary of your concept and first achievements of your doctoral project and a description of your project plan to completion, which must cover one of the following topics:

agricultural machines and mechanization
tractors and engines
electronics, automation and digitalization

Evaluation criteria

Your thesis will be judged on the basis of:

Creativity and innovation quality and contribution to knowledge
International relevance and usability in agricultural engineering and farming
Validation of the central idea (existing "proof of prinicple")
Methodical approach and quality of project plan
Passion and enthusiasm for project

Factors such as internationality, interdisciplinarity, your curriculum vitae and professional expectations will be considered in the evaluation process.

Please enclose a recommendation letter from your doctoral supervisor with your application.

Your application

How to apply?

Please email us your application in English consisting of the following:

A summary of the current status of your doctoral project (max. 3 pages) as well as a project plan to completion
A covering letter to include your personal future plans, your outlook regarding agricultural engineering and your plans for use of the prize money
Your Curriculum Vitae
A recommendation letter from your doctoral supervisor

An independent, international Jury will be assessing the submissions. The jury is committed to treat all entries as strictly confidential.

Please note, that the working title and short description of the prize-winning project will be published.

The Foundation’s decisions are final and are in no way subject to appeal.

Schedule of application: