Maximilian Fichtner receives Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck Prize
Battery researcher Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner, spokesperson for the POLiS Cluster of Excellence, has been awarded the international Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck Prize 2025. The award ceremony took place on October 21, 2025, at the Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck House at the Ulm University.
The Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck Foundation honors outstanding scientific achievements in the fields of chemistry and physics with this award. This year, the prize is endowed with 25,000 euros for the first time – a clear signal from the foundation that it wants to further strengthen basic research at the Ulm University.
In his laudatory speech, Prof. Dr. Axel Groß highlighted Fichtner's pioneering contributions to battery research: “Maximilian Fichtner has made a significant contribution to advancing the development of batteries beyond lithium and has identified new approaches in the field of multivalent systems. His work has contributed significantly to our understanding of electrochemical energy storage.”
In addition to his scientific excellence, the foundation also emphasized Fichtner's commitment to science communication. Through lectures, media appearances, and numerous appearances on the Geladen podcast, he helps make complex topics such as energy storage and sustainable technologies accessible to a broad audience.
In his acceptance speech, Fichtner underscored the importance of curiosity and collaboration in research: “Research success is always a team effort. This award honors not only me, but also all my colleagues who work every day on the future of sustainable energy systems.”
The award ceremony was part of a celebration that included the unveiling of a work of art in honor of Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck. The sculpture by Frankfurt artist Jasper Bamberger reflects the founder's life's work—the famous Starck catalog—and addresses the human urge to gather and pass on knowledge.