Leadership as a competence requirement does not yet receive enough attention in the scientific working environment.

The step to becoming a leader is often a real challenge for scientists. Many researchers reach leadership positions without having learned the necessary leadership skills beforehand. Yet the research environment in particular is characterised by specific challenges, such as high performance pressure, uncertain working conditions and results, the acquisition of third-party funding, complex and changing organisational and hierarchical structures, and heterogeneous and international research teams, which place a great strain on leadership work. At the same time, a manager in the scientific environment continues to be expected to meet high professional standards. And finally, the challenge for a modern manager not only to advance his or her own research career, but also to assume responsibility as a coach and mentor for the career development of young researchers and for the transfer and sharing of knowledge (e.g. in the context of teaching, open innovation in science) is often not (sufficiently) perceived.

The novel award LExA underlines the relevance of leadership competencies in the scientific environment. With the Leadership Award, the LBG wants to highlight individuals who not only master these challenges, but meet them in a joyful and positive way, thus being a role model and inspiration for young researchers. In this regard, better conditions for young researchers and their research work can be created in the medium term and, as a result, better research results can be achieved.

Through the nomination and the award, not least the organizations of the affiliated managers can emphasize the relevance of the topic for their organization.

Researchers from the close research environment (e.g. universities, non-university research
institutions, spin-offs) who can demonstrate at least 2 years of leadership responsibility can be nominated. The award recognizes two categories: (Emerging) Leaders and Experienced Leaders.

The award is given to an individual who has demonstrated excellent leadership skills.

• Receiving the LExA Award
• Prize money in the amount of 4,000 €, dedicated to team development measures

The award will be presented at the LBG XChange, September 2026, in the presence of many important stakeholders from the Austrian scientific community.

An international jury of experts evaluates the incoming nominations based on modern leadership criteria, with the selection being made in a two-step process. In the event of a large number of submissions, the nominations are pre-selected by the LBG Career Center.
In the first step, the jury members individually review and rank the nominations. This is followed by a joint jury meeting, at which a winner is selected.

The decision on granting the award is made at the sole discretion of the board of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft and is final, with no possibility of appeal.

In 2026, the jury will be composed as follows (in alphabetical order):

• Dr. Jeffrey Buller: former Director of Leadership and Professional Development at Florida Atlantic University, expert, author and trainer on Academic Leadership, Senior Partner at ATLAS Leadership Training.

• Kerstin Dübner-Gee: Head of the Human Resources Development & Opportunities department of the Max Planck Society, co-editor of the journal “Developing Personnel in Higher Education and Science”, board member of the German Scholars Organization.

• Dr. Markus Ebner: Founder of the Positive Leadership PERMA-Lead Model, Keynote Speaker, Trainer and Coach, Teaching and Research at the Universities of Vienna and Klagenfurt and University of Applied Sciences Vienna.

• Dr. Markus Hammer: External Advisor and former Director of Learning at McKinsey & Company; Lecturer at TU Graz (Institute for Innovation and Industrial Management); Certified coach specializing in the human factor in business and academia.

• Prof. Annette Mayer: economist with extensive academic leadership experience, has held roles including Vice-Rector at FOM University and founding Rector of the German Open Business University in Berlin. She is active in TU Berlin’s Science Management program and the Berlin University Alliance, holding key leadership roles.

• Claudia Müller: Head of the Leibniz leadership academy, many years of experience in the field of science and organizational and personnel development; former Chancellor of BTK University of Art and Design.

The nomination is made by people who can judge the leadership work of the nominee, e.g. colleagues, employees or superiors. A self-nomination is not possible.

The selection is made according to transparent criteria by an international jury of experts.
The jury does not focus on management competencies (i.e. the ability to manage and oversee people, processes and resources in an efficient manner), but rather on leadership skills, i.e. the ability to influence and motivate others through one’s own vision, positive attitude and role model character, to contribute and develop according to individual strengths.

The award decision is discretionary and valid without appeal.

Full details of the current call can be found in the nomination guidelines.

• The submission must clearly and comprehensibly demonstrate how and why the nominee is experienced as an exemplary leadership personality
• Based on a description of specific examples (e.g., everyday life, concrete situations, projects, processes, measures, or the like) and their tangible effects
• The application and all supporting documents must be written in English due to the international peer review process
• All dates and deadlines for submitting the application as well as required forms and templates are available through this website
• Submission is via our LBG eSubmission Portal at esubmission.lbg.ac.at.

• February 2026: Publication of the call
• From February 2026 on: Submissions possible via our LBG eSubmission Portal
• May 16, 2026: End of the submission period
• Selection process by a jury of experts during summer 2026
• September 2026 – LBG XChange:
  • Presentation of the award to the winners