“How industrial furnaces and processes can be converted from the currently widespread use of natural gas for heating to more environmentally friendly hydrogen and plasma technologies is currently a major challenge. A solution to this issue can only be developed in collaboration with the scientific community, trade associations and industry partners – and this is precisely where Associate Professor Sven Eckart is making an exceptional contribution,” explains Fritz Lütke-Uhlenbrock, a board member of the Dr Erich Krüger Foundation, on the award of the prize to the young researcher from Freiberg.
Accordingly, Sven Eckart has initiated a large number of research projects with renowned partners both in Germany and abroad. He is active in professional associations and contributes to the sustainability of the international networking of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg in the field of gas and thermal engineering. In recognition of his commitment, the Dr Erich Krüger Foundation is honouring him with the Krüger Prize, which will be awarded for the first time in 2026. With this prize, the Foundation recognises the potential of early-career researchers to drive innovation at TUBAF. In his speech Eckart said:
“As a native of Freiberg, the Krüger Prize means a great deal to me; it is a great honour and, at the same time, a special recognition of my scientific work at TUBAF. Together with my fantastic team, I aim to further develop gas, heating and Energy Engineering in a multidisciplinary way, combining technical and economic thinking, and to continue bridging the gap between basic research and industrial application. By inspiring new students to take on these challenges and recruiting them as international ambassadors, we can translate pioneering technologies for the energy transition into real-world systems worldwide, whilst further strengthening Freiberg’s economy, scientific community and reputation.”
About the prize winner
Associate Professor Dr.-Ing. Sven Eckart is Head of the Combustion Technology Research Group at the Institute of Thermal Engineering at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. His research focuses on improving the efficiency and decarbonisation of industrial high-temperature processes, for example through the use of hydrogen, ammonia and plasma technologies.
In addition to his work at TUBAF, Sven Eckart is affiliated with the Centre of Excellence for Safety Research at VŠB – Technical University in Ostrava, the Czech Republic, as an associate professor for hydrogen and ammonia safety. Sven Eckart has published more than 70 papers to date, with a total of over 200 international co-authors, and is himself a reviewer and editor for several international journals. In addition, he volunteers to support the development of young talent at the DVGW (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) and the German Section of the Combustion Institute, where he also serves on the board. This summer, Sven Eckart submitted his habilitation thesis to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering and Energy Engineering at TUBAF.
