The University of Heidelberg mourns the passing of Matthias Koenig.

January 12, 20266

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences mourns the passing of Matthias Koenig, who passed away on January 12, 2026, after a long illness.

With him, we are losing a distinguished researcher who, over the past five years, brought important new impetus to the faculty and has strengthened one of our three disciplines in many ways. His appointment to the Chair of Empirical Macrosociology in 2020 brought one of Germany’s leading scholars in the sociology of religion and migration to our faculty. Since his arrival, we have known him as a dedicated supporter of early-career researchers, an analytical mind, and a strategic thinker who has sharpened our profile in research, teaching, and knowledge transfer.

We are also losing a distinguished representative of science who, as Vice President of the German Research Foundation, was always a strong advocate for the disciplines represented in our faculty. Always guided by substance and a deep sense of humanity, he combined intellectual brilliance with incomparable courtesy. His passing has deprived our faculty of his great talents and his intellectual generosity far too soon.

The University of Heidelberg will preserve an honorable memory of this outstanding scholar and colleague.