The product in question is an outstanding innovation in the form of ultra-thin solid-state batteries. These combine fast charging, high temperature resistance, and an exceptional level of safety; indeed, they outperform conventional lithium-ion cells on all these counts. By applying production technologies from the semiconductor industry to battery manufacturing, BTRY has achieved a groundbreaking advance in the global shift toward smaller, safer, and more durable energy storage solutions – paving the way for the next generation of smart devices. These include wireless IoT sensors, wearables, and applications in the field of medical technology. The production process is entirely free of toxic solvents and is characterized by low material consumption. These batteries can operate at temperatures of up to 150 °C and, with a thickness starting at just 0.1 mm, can be fully charged and discharged within one minute.

“BTRY's ultra-thin battery shows that innovative ideas generate competitiveness. This space-saving and resource-efficient energy storage solution unlocks new possibilities and underlines our message for future policy: Investing in knowledge means securing prosperity," says Dorothee Bär.

Jury Chair and President of the Fraunhofer Society, Prof. Dr.-Ing. -Ing. Holger Hanselka, says: "Tailor-made batteries for comprehensive electrification are a key building block on the path to a climate-neutral society. To achieve this, we need efficient, lightweight, and flexibly accessible energy storage technologies – in other words, batteries that are future-oriented and enable new, innovative applications. In the light of global competition, speed of implementation is just as crucial as quality – it is the order of the day. The start-up BTRY has demonstrated the superiority of both its product performance and its production technology, and is already in negotiations with licensees. With this in mind, I am particularly pleased, on behalf of the entire jury, to congratulate BTRY on winning the HERMES Startup AWARD 2026. We wish the company all the best and are confident that BTRY is headed for long-term success."

With the HERMES Startup AWARD, Deutsche Messe annually honors a company that is younger than five years old and which offers a product or solution that exhibits a particularly high level of technological innovation. The award is traditionally presented during the opening ceremony of HANNOVER MESSE.