© VDE

This year's special prize of 2,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research goes to Florian Winkler (18) from Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium Großenhain. His project combines technology and nature so that plants can grow fully automatically under the optimal conditions for them. His chip controls the specially developed greenhouse. "It consists of an aluminum tray containing the soil, irrigation, ventilation and humidity sensor. It also has a Plexiglas roof on which a ventilation flap, a carbon dioxide sensor and the LED lighting are mounted," he explains.