Deutsche Messe AG is once again inviting entries for the internationally renowned HERMES AWARD, to be presented at HANNOVER MESSE 2026, scheduled for April 20-24. The HERMES AWARD figures among the most prestigious prizes honoring innovation in industry. The award ceremony will take place on April 19, 2026, during the official opening of HANNOVER MESSE. All companies and institutions participating in the event are eligible to submit entries; the deadline for submissions is February 15, 2026. Besides the HERMES AWARD, the HERMES Startup AWARD will again be presented, specifically honoring young, innovative companies.

An independent jury chaired by Prof Dr -Ing Holger Hanselka, President, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, will nominate three products each for the HERMES AWARD and the HERMES Startup AWARD from among the submissions. The respective award winners will then be selected from those nominees. The degree of technological innovation, benefits for industry, the environment, and society, as well as cost-effectiveness and implementation maturity, are decisive criteria in assessing the entries.

The HERMES AWARD 2025 went to Siemens. The award-winning solution centers around AI-driven ‘industrial copilots’ designed to enhance workforce efficiency by eliminating repetitive tasks and boosting productivity. For instance, the industrial copilot for Siemens’ TIA Portal engineering framework—used by over 120,000 professionals worldwide—enables engineers of all experience levels to write precise, reliable code significantly faster. Siemens offers a suite of industrial copilots tailored for use in industry, covering the entire industrial value chain from design and planning to engineering, operation, and maintenance. This solution makes generative AI accessible to a wide range of companies. Both cloud-based and on-premises versions are available, with the latter operating directly on the shop floor to meet diverse requirements.

For more information: www.hannovermesse.de