Press release of September 1, 2026

“Building Bridges 2026” on the topic of “Energy” on September 9–10 in Dresden

The international science conference “Building Bridges” has become an integral part of Dresden's conference calendar. This year, it is once again being organized by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) on behalf of the Saxon State Chancellery. The conference will take place on September 9 to 10 at the Festspielhaus Hellerau and will focus on the latest findings on the topic of “Energy.” Approximately 300 scientists and leading representatives from science, politics and business in Germany and Europe are expected to attend.

Energy is considered a key driver of scientific progress, economic development, and social change. Energy research and innovation play a central role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, security of supply, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable growth. In particular, groundbreaking developments in the fields of hydrogen,  fusion, and battery storage systems are fundamentally changing the way energy is generated, stored, and used. The individual sessions of this year’s Building Bridges conference will focus on precisely these three topics.

Saxony’s Minister of Science, Sebastian Gemkow, and the Scientific Director of the HZDR, Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt, will jointly open this year’s conference on September 9 at 1:30 p.m.

This year’s guest country is Ukraine, which will be represented by H.E. Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev and by Ukrainian researchers. The scientific keynote address on September 9 will be delivered by Ukrainian scientist Dr. Iryna Doronina. She currently teaches and conducts research at the Technical University of Munich and specializes in power supply systems, the modernization of power grids, energy efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy into existing power grids. Closely tied to the European energy transition, her research addresses key challenges such as the digitization of energy systems, the integration of decentralized energy sources, and the modernization of critical infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe.

Panel Discussion and Archimedes Science Award

Further highlights of this first day of the conference include the presentation of the Archimedes Science Award in the afternoon, as well as a panel discussion featuring Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and high-ranking representatives from several European partner countries and early-career researchers.

The Archimedes Science Award, worth 50,000 euros and given for outstanding achievements in science, goes this year to chemist Prof. Peter Wasserscheid of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Jülich Research Center. Following the award ceremony, he will deliver a keynote address on the topic “Chemical hydrogen storage – systems, challenges, and innovations.”

In the panel discussion “Empowering the Next Generation: The Role of Politics and Science”, politicians and early-career researchers will discuss their visions for Europe’s energy future. Together, they will explore the challenges and opportunities arising for science, research policy, and political decision-making. The panel discussion will highlight national strategies and shared goals for promoting international cooperation and scientific excellence.

Political Keynotes by Representatives from the Czech Republic

The second day of the conference on September 10 will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a joint political keynote address by two high-ranking guests from the Czech Republic: Jindřich Fryč, General Director for International Cooperation and Educational Support, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic, and Petr Mervart, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Industry and Trade for Hydrogen Technologies, Czech Republic.

A poster session is scheduled to follow. As on the first day of the conference, there will also be concurrent lightning talks on September 10, during which participants will present and discuss their current research in the fields of hydrogen technologies, nuclear fusion, and battery storage systems.

Statements:

Michael Kretschmer, Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony: “Energy supply is central to successful economic development, the protection of our natural resources, and future prosperity. Our common goal must be to ensure a long-term secure, sustainable, and affordable energy supply in Germany and Europe. Research, innovation, and cross-border exchange and networking play a decisive role in this. I am confident that this year’s international science conference on energy will provide valuable impetus toward this goal.”

Sebastian Gemkow, Saxon Minister of Science: “Saxony is one of the leading centers for energy research in Germany and Europe, with approximately 260 stakeholders in universities and research institutions. Among the strengths of Saxony’s energy research are all three technology fields that are the focus of this year’s Building Bridges conference: When it comes to hydrogen, Saxony offers a globally unique ecosystem spanning the entire value chain, from materials research to industrial application. In the field of fusion, we’re playing in the “top league” and are part of the German Research Alliance. Through the SAXFUSION research network, Saxony is participating in all three technology hubs that the federal government plans to establish to build a fusion power plant. In addition, Saxony’s universities and research institutions are working intensively on the development of high-performance, highly efficient, and resource-conserving next-generation battery storage technologies.”

Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt, Scientific Director of the HZDR: “Science and progress are based on exchange and collaboration. As in previous years, the Building Bridges conference offers an excellent platform for bringing together representatives from science and politics to engage in dialogue and build networks. With the conference’s broad theme of ‘Energy,’ we have once again set a focus that is of great societal relevance. I am very pleased to welcome numerous guests from Germany and abroad again this year.”

Media contact:

Kim-Astrid Magister | Communications and Media Relations at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 3406 | Email: k.magister@hzdr.de

Saxon State Chancellery I Press Department
Phone: +49 351 564 10326 | Email: presse@sk.sachsen.de

This initiative is co-funded by tax revenues based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament and by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).