2026 Heinz Leuze Prize Awarded to Fem Researchers
A team of authors from the Fem Research Institute has been awarded the 2026 Heinz Leuze Prize. The award was given for the paper “Electroplating as a Pioneer of the Next Generation of Batteries,” which was published as a scientific article in 2025.
The award-winning article, which appeared in the journal *Galvanotechnik*, highlights the potential of electroplating processes for future battery technologies. Electrochemical coating and deposition processes can, for example, be used in the manufacture of novel electrodes, thereby opening up new avenues for high-performance and resource-efficient energy storage systems. The research paper thus bridges the gap between a time-honored industrial technology and one of the key future fields of the energy transition. Among the award-winning authors are Christoph Kiesl, Dr. Şeniz Sörgel, Dr. Reinhard Böck, and Prof. Dr. Holger Kaßner from FEM, as well as Prof. Dr. Timo Sörgel, Professor of Surface and Electroplating Technology at Aalen University. “The award beautifully illustrates the potential that lies in further developing established technologies through scientific research and adapting them for entirely new applications,” says Prof. Dr. Holger Kaßner, Director of FEM. “This presents a major opportunity, especially for technology sectors whose traditional markets are under pressure: existing expertise can serve as the foundation for new applications and, consequently, new markets.”
Award Ceremony at the ZVO Surface Technology Days 2026
Dr. Şeniz Sörgel, Head of the Department of Electrochemical Energy Systems at FEM, also emphasizes the potential of electroplating processes for the battery technologies of the future: “Next-generation batteries are not just about new materials. Equally crucial is the question of how these materials can be manufactured and processed efficiently and on an industrial scale. This is where electroplating can make an important contribution.” The award ceremony took place on September 16, 2026, as part of the ZVO Surface Technology Days in Karlsruhe. Christoph Kiesl accepted the award on behalf of the team of authors. The Heinz Leuze Prize is endowed with a total of 2,000 euros; the winners also received a certificate and a silver plaque.
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