The Honda Foundation (established by Honda Motor Co. founder Soichiro Honda and younger brother Benjiro) held an award ceremony for the 41st Honda Prize on November 17, 2020, where Dr. Henning Kagermann, Chair of the Board of Trustees, National Academy of Science and Engineering (Germany), was awarded the Honda Prize 2020. The award ceremony, held online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was broadcast to Japan, Germany and other countries.

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In his opening address, Hiroto Ishida, President of the Honda Foundation, said, "It is a great pleasure to award the Honda Prize 2020 to Dr. Kagermann. The Industrie 4.0 initiative he proposes foresaw the turmoil and tragedy that unilateral technological advances could bring to society, and provided a path for people to respond appropriately. Dr. Kagermann’s great achievements are in keeping with the spirit of the Honda Prize and this has led to our awarding him this prize."

Following these remarks, Dr. Hirohisa Uchida, vice chairman of the Honda Prize selection committee, explained: "In the selection process, we focused on the kind of challenges made and how the results have contributed to the lives of people around the world. The goal of Industrie 4.0 is to use data to digitize the true nature of industry, increasing transparency, predictability and autonomy to optimize flexibility and agility not only in the manufacturing industry but in all industries. By doing so, it presents one way of thinking that aims to realize a better ecosystem that includes our own existence. These efforts are notable achievements worthy of the Honda Prize."

Graciously accepting the certificate and medal, Dr. Kagermann said, "It is a great honor for me to receive the Honda Prize and above all I take it as a recognition of the successful work of all the experts who are part of establishing a common vision of Industrie 4.0 and also for those who are turning Industrie 4.0 into reality. The motivation behind Industrie 4.0 is the need for a more resilient and sustainable society. A society that can absorb shocks from unexpected crises like the economic crisis of 2009 and the current pandemic is smoother, less volatile and more frictionless. We also want to be in a position to combine the recovery phase with the chance of transformation and societal progress. Technology has a potential to solve a range of societal and economic challenges but it can cause issues in particular if you move from automated systems with predefined outcomes to self-learning and self-determining systems like those we need for the success of industry 4.0. Resolving issues caused by technology and economic growth is a central part of the mission of the Honda Foundation. I would like to thank the selection committee, and the Honda Foundation, as well as all of my colleagues who helped establish Industrie 4.0 as a common vision and all the friends and colleagues of the acatech community."

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Source: Honda Foundation