At the opening ceremony for HANNOVER MESSE 2025 Cem Özdemir, Germany’s Federal Minister of Education and Research, announced the winner of this year’s HERMES Award. An independent jury of experts from the fields of politics, business, research and society chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer Society, selected the winner from among three nominated companies. HERMES STARTUP AWARD was also awarded and goes to the company ecoplanet for the ecoplanet Cockpit, is an AI-powered platform designed to help businesses analyze their energy consumption in real time.
The HERMES goes to Siemens for the 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 copilots tailored for industrial use, covering the entire value chain from design and planning to engineering, operations, 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.
"Artificial intelligence presents tremendous opportunities for industry. Many companies recognize this and are eager to integrate AI into their processes, as it is a valuable tool for enhancing productivity when applied correctly," said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hanselka. "The industrial copilots stand out with their integrative approach, innovatively combining AI-based assistance for management processes with production control. Siemens' solution also incorporates quality assurance and real-time documentation, making it a compelling, all-encompassing package for the industrial value chain. It is highly relevant to many pressing challenges facing our economy today. On behalf of the entire jury: Congratulations to Siemens on winning the HERMES AWARD 2025!"
The HERMES AWARD is the international technology prize of HANNOVER MESSE and is presented every year at the event. All companies and institutions exhibiting at HANNOVER MESSE are eligible to enter, and the prize is awarded to the company whose product or solution demonstrates a particularly high degree of technological innovation.
Nominees 2025 were:
Igus, Cologne
The nominated product, Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO), is an innovation in the shoreside power supply of ports. The system delivers a mobile and flexible solution by precisely positioning power outlets for ships along a berth, reaching distances of up to 400 meters exactly where needed. The power cables are routed in a roller-supported energy conduit specially engineered for long distances and heavy loads. This protects the cables from wear and tear and prevents tripping hazards. The system has both ecological and economic advantages: the fact that no diesel generators need to be used means that emissions of harmful substances are reduced at the ports. At the same time, the durable and low-maintenance system helps to reduce operating costs and maximize economic benefits for port operators.
Schaeffler, Herzogenaurach
The newly developed XZU rolling bearing earned its nomination. The innovation is a double-row oblique roller bearing designed with the same connection dimensions as standard cross-roller bearings available on the market, making it a seamless, one-to-one replacement. The arrangement of very small, cylindrical roller-like rolling elements in a double-row configuration means that the bearing increases tilt stiffness by 30 percent, reduces friction resistance by 20 percent, and improves raceway accuracy by 40 percent. These advancements directly enhance efficiency, productivity, and thus also energy consumption per component. The market offers a wide range of applications for this new rolling bearing. This innovation is particularly valuable in fields such as robotics, assembly automation, and machine tools.
Siemens, Munich
The nominated solution involves AI-supported "Industrial Copilots" that increase the efficiency of the workforce by eliminating repetitive tasks and boosting productivity. The Industrial Copilot for Siemens' TIA Portal engineering framework – used by over 120,000 professionals worldwide – enables, for example, engineers of all experience levels to write precise, reliable code significantly faster. Siemens offers an industrial-grade suite of Industrial Copilots that comprehensively covers the industrial value chain – from design and planning right through to engineering, operations, and service. This solution enables access to generative AI for a great many companies. Both cloud and on-premises versions are available, working locally on the shop floor to meet diverse requirements.
