Minister President Hendrik Wüst presented the award on Thursday, 17 July 2025, at the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. The award ceremony took place during a celebration for a total of nine distinguished personalities from North Rhine-Westphalia.
In his laudatory speech, Minister President Wüst praised Christoph M. Schmidt as one of the most renowned economists in the state. Among other things, he highlighted Schmidt's contributions to imparting economic knowledge to young people. He also praised Schmidt's work for the Ruhr region, where he has long been based. The Minister President emphasised that Schmidt's voice helps to make important economic policy issues accessible to a broad public.