The Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) is the result of an initiative of the German entrepreneur and co-founder of SAP, Klaus Tschira (1940–2015). Tschira had been a long supporter of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, and he wanted to create a similar series of events for the scientific disciplines mathematics and computer science. In 2012, a formal agreement was signed between the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, the International Mathematical Union, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the Association for Computing Machines to establish a week long, annual Heidelberg Laureate Forum to take place in Heidelberg, Germany. The winners of the Fields Medal, the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize, the Abel Prize, the ACM A.M. Turing Award, and the ACM Prize in Computing are invited to attend the HLF. In addition, a great many talented junior scientists from all over the world are invited to attend the HLF and meet the global leaders in the field of mathematics and computer science.