DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
German news & articles
BioNTech vaccine developers to receive one of Germany's highest honours
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

BioNTech vaccine developers to receive one of Germany's highest honours

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Pandemic pets are filling up animal shelters in GermanyPandemic pets are filling up animal shelters in Germany
People in Germany are drinking less and less beerPeople in Germany are drinking less and less beer
BioNTech scientists honoured with prestigious German medical prizeBioNTech scientists honoured with prestigious German medical prize
Cologne Carnival to go ahead for the vaccinated, recovered and testedCologne Carnival to go ahead for the vaccinated, recovered and tested
Corona sniffer dogs to come to German care homesCorona sniffer dogs to come to German care homes
Germany’s BioNTech aims to develop world’s first mRNA malaria vaccine Germany’s BioNTech aims to develop world’s first mRNA malaria vaccine 
Germany creates 2,5-billion-euro fund to reboot cultural sectorGermany creates 2,5-billion-euro fund to reboot cultural sector
Munich hits back at Dubai Oktoberfest plansMunich hits back at Dubai Oktoberfest plans
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Mar 3, 2021
Emily Proctor
Former Editor at IamExpat Media.Read more

The German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will award BioNTech founders Özlem Türeci and Uğur Şahin the German Order of Merit for their dedication in producing the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19. 

The duo will attend President Steinmeier’s first in-person awards ceremony this year

The awards ceremony, which will take place on March 19, 2021 at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, is expected to be attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The German presidential office announced the news via Facebook on Friday, stating that Türeci and Şahin would be awarded the Federal Order of Merit for contribution to the “containment of the coronavirus pandemic”. 

BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine developers receive prestigious merit

Since late 2020, BioNTech has gained a celebrity-like status after the firm developed the first vaccine to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency.  Özlem Türeci, who specialises in cancer research, is the firm's chief medical officer and Uğur Şahin is the company's chief executive. The scientific super-couple have been married since 2002. 

Türeci and Şahin will receive the Knight Commander's Cross of the Federal Order of Merit, an award which less than 2.000 people receive annually. It is the only federal decoration of Germany, and has been awarded to just over 200.000 people in total, including both German and international recipients. 

By Emily Proctor