The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA will be awarding the Stuttgart Surface Technology Prize "The Surface" for the tenth time in 2026. The competition recognizes applications and technologies that clearly support the further development of surface technology. The application phase began on October 6, 2025 and will run up to and including February 20, 2026. The award ceremony will take place on May 5, 2026 at SurfaceTechnology Germany in Stuttgart.
Participation open to all disciplines in the industry
Individuals, companies and research teams from all areas of surface technology can apply. Entries can be submitted via the Fraunhofer IPA website, where the tender documents and application form are also available. Entries can be submitted from all areas of surface technology, including electroplating, painting technology, thermal spraying as well as PVD and CVD processes. Relevant solutions should have a recognizable benefit for industrial applications.
Evaluation by an interdisciplinary jury
A three-member jury will assess the submissions based on the criteria of degree of innovation, sustainability, potential as an enabling technology and industrial feasibility. The jury consists of Martin Metzner (Fraunhofer IPA), Martin Riester (VDMA Surface Technology) and Michael Hilt (Forschungsgesellschaft für Pigmente und Lacke e. V.).
A look back at the 2024 award winner
Holzapfel Metallveredelung was honored in 2024. The company impressed the jury with a rotating and tilting electroplating rack that enables variable component orientations. The solution increases coating quality and reduces resource requirements, as components can be coated on one side without having to be masked.