The foundation gives up to 100 research awards each year to encourage academic cooperation between scientists and scholars from abroad and in Germany. The award, which recognizes Tsoukalas's research and teaching accomplishments, comes with 60,000 euros (about $77,000) and the opportunity to work with counterparts in Germany.

Tsoukalas will receive the prize by the president of Germany in a June ceremony. Up to 100 such awards are given in all fields of scholarship (including the liberal arts, sciences, humanities, and engineering) to recognize lifetime achievement in research and education.