AMA Innovation Award 2026: Three young companies in the final
High participation of young innovators underscores the dynamism of the industry
Berlin, March, 2026 – The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology has nominated three young companies for the AMA Innovation Award 2026. All three finalists will receive the special “Young Company” award and are also nominated for the main prize. The number of qualified submissions from young companies this year underscores the high level of innovation in sensor and measurement technology.
Strong participation by young companies
A total of 13 research and development teams from Germany and abroad submitted their projects. Particularly noteworthy: Nine applications came from companies that have been on the market for less than five years, employ fewer than 50 people, and have annual sales of less than ten million euros. This development demonstrates the strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative power of industry.
Three young companies impressed the jury:
Coher Sense UG, Lübeck
Dr. Oliver Lischtschenko developed ‘KISA – The Multimeter for Lasers’, a compact, fast, and industry-ready measuring system. KISA independently measures laser radiation and simultaneously determines power and wavelength. The technology is based on findings from fusion research and replaces complex measuring setups such as Fizeau interferometers, spectrometers, or Fabry-Pérot interferometers in certain applications.
Metubiq GmbH, Kassel, and the University of Kassel
Hüseyin Serbes, Andre Stelter, Alexander Metzker, Dr. Stanislav Tereschenko, and Prof. Dr. Peter Lehmann developed vibration-immune inline white light interferometry for manufacturing. The patented vibration compensation enables high-precision 3D microtopography measurements with sub-nanometer accuracy directly in the production environment and opens up new possibilities for inline and in-situ quality control.
Moldsonics GmbH, Linz (Austria)
Dr. Bernhard Praher and Dr. Thomas Mitterlehner present an ultrasound-based inline sensor platform for continuous monitoring of process status and wear in plastics processing. The solution collects process-relevant data in injection molding as well as in the screw and cylinder of extruders during operation. High-temperature sensors up to 300°C and standardized interfaces enable integration into existing systems.
All three nominees will receive a free exhibition booth at SENSOR+TEST 2026 in Nuremberg as a special “Young Company” prize and will also compete for the AMA Innovation Award 2026, which is endowed with 10,000 euros.
High quality and visible industry dynamics
"This year's submissions presented us with a challenging selection. The breadth and depth of innovation was exceptionally high, “ explains Prof. Dr. Klaus Stefan Drese, jury chairman from the Institute for Sensor and Actuator Technology at Coburg University.” The strong participation of young companies is particularly encouraging. It impressively demonstrates how dynamically sensor and measurement technology is developing and how consistently new ideas are being transformed into marketable solutions."
The winners will be announced on June 9, 2026, during the opening event of SENSOR+TEST 2026 in Nuremberg.
Further information and an overview of all applications can be found at: https://ama-sensorik.de/en/press/ama-pressemitteilungen-2026/
