His current research focuses on innovative methods for the protection of personal data, especially in medicine, as well as on trustworthy methods for machine learning and on universal solutions for software and system security. In recent years, he has had a significant international impact on the scientific field of cybersecurity. His research results are documented in more than 300 publications in the leading international journals and conference proceedings. His research has been awarded with scientifically renowned prizes, in particular with the ERC Synergy Grant as the highest endowed EU research prize. He was the first German researcher to receive the international MIT TR35 Award. This prize is awarded interdisciplinary, to the world's best researchers under 35 years of age, whose achievements will have a "dramatic impact" on the world. Director Michael Backes, as of today, is the youngest member of the Academy of Engineering Sciences "acaTech" and is regularly listed in rankings as one of Germany's most important IT personalities. As one of Germany's digital minds, he was honored by former Federal Minister Johanna Wanka. He holds an honorary doctorate by the Université de Lorraine and is a Fellow of the IEEE. In 2019 he was awarded the Karl-Heinz Beckurts Prize.