Two development teams honored

This year's winners are the development teams from NanoStruct from Würzburg, a young company from the university environment, and the development team from the established company Endress+Hauser Flow from Switzerland. Both teams impressed the independent jury from science and industry in equal measure. The prize money of 10,000 euros will be split between the two winners.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Schütze (Jury Chairman), Beat Kissling (Endress+Hauser Flow, Reinach/Switzerland), Peter Krause (AMA Chairman of the Board) © AMA

The award ceremony took place on May 6, 2025 at the opening of the Sensor+Test trade fair in Nuremberg. The AMA Innovation Award was presented for the 25th time this year.

The award-winning projects at a glance:

Three-minute bacteria test with SERS technology

The start-up NanoStruct has developed an innovative rapid test to identify pathogenic bacteria in food. The technology is based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and enables detection within minutes using nanostructured sensors. The challenge lay in the reproducible production of the nanostructures, which has now been successfully achieved. The technology is about to enter the market - initially in the field of food analysis, with the prospect of further safety-critical fields. True to the motto 'Faster analysis for a safer life', the process contributes to greater safety and efficiency in quality control.

Clamp-on ultrasonic sensors for high-temperature flow measurements

The development team at Endress+Hauser Flow has realized a technological innovation that enables non-contact flow measurements at temperatures of up to +550 °C for the first time. The innovative clamp-on ultrasonic sensor can also be used to precisely measure high-temperature liquids such as molten salts, making a relevant contribution to industrial applications in the context of the energy transition. The sensors open up new application possibilities, for example in thermal energy storage or in high-temperature processes where no reliable measurement technology was previously available.

"I would like to congratulate both winning teams. With this year's double award, we are honoring two completely different but equally forward-looking developments," explains Professor Dr. Andreas Schütze, Chairman of the jury. "They show how innovative strength is created in both start-ups and established companies and how important this diversity is for technological progress."

Applications for the Innovation Award 2026

Application forms for the AMA Innovation Award 2026 will be available from the end of October 2025. Individuals or development teams from companies and institutes can apply.