Innovation Prize for Sustainable Technologies: Dr. Hammer sets new standards!

Innovation Prize for Sustainable Technologies: Dr. Hammer sets new standards!

The University Sponsorship Prize 2025, which is awarded by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for the Main Franconia region, goes to Dr. Sebastian Hammer, a physicist from the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (JMU). The prize, endowed with 25,000 euros, honors his research into high-tech materials and is intended to help develop novel technologies. The prize money will go towards the project entitled “Prototype of a microtransmission spectrograph for the optical characterization of novel materials”. Dr. Hammer works at the Chair of Experimental Physics 6 at the JMU and plans to analyze the optical properties of materials starting from a size of 50 micrometers. The analysis range extends from the UV range to the near infrared.

Matthias Bode, Vice President of the JMU, and Dr. Gunther Schunk, first chairman of the university association, was present at the award ceremony. IHK President Caroline Trips presented the check and emphasized the relevance of cooperation between business and science for the innovative strength of the Main Franconia region. She noted that since the foundation was founded in 1982, a total of 98 projects have been funded that pursue business-oriented research approaches.

Innovation approach for sustainable technologies

The research project of Dr. Hammer aims to test the feasibility of new materials in various applications, particularly in the area of ​​sustainable technologies and efficient electronics. The prototype of the microtransmission spectrograph will be tested in research laboratories and compared with existing devices. In the future, it could also be possible for the prototype to be marketed by a separate start-up.

These approaches are in the context of a broader initiative advocated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The aim of this initiative is to promote a culture of innovation for sustainability at universities and research institutions. Through projects such as “hiking coaching” for students, an active commitment to climate neutrality and sustainable development at universities is sought. This transdisciplinary research combines scientific findings with practical solutions to real-world problems.

Sustainability in science

The BMBF supports over 35 universities and non-university research institutions in developing concrete solutions for sustainability. Numerous projects are working on climate-neutral mobility solutions and resource-saving procurement, among other things. The development of circular approaches and the involvement of regional actors play an important role. The funding aims to research new technologies and processes that avoid greenhouse gases and to evaluate their economic use. This often happens as part of projects with strong economic participation.

Overall, it shows that the combination of academic research and entrepreneurial spirit represents an important basis for the development of innovative solutions in the region. The promotion of projects like that of Dr. Sebastian Hammer could therefore not only contribute to increasing innovative strength in Mainfranken, but also to overcoming global challenges in the area of ​​sustainability. Further information about the ongoing initiatives is available on the websites of the University of Würzburg and the BMBF locations.