LEAF Laser Riblets Honored with the 2026 Innovation Award Laser Technology
Copyright: Fraunhofer ILT / Andreas Steindl
The LEAF technology developed by 4JET microtech GmbH has been honored with the prestigious 2026 Innovation Award Laser Technology.
The award was presented on April 22, 2026, in the historic Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall by the organizing association Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V. Every two years, the award is presented during the AKL – International Laser Technology Congress in recognition of outstanding innovations in the field of laser technology. An international jury of ten experts evaluated the submissions and selected three finalists. In the end, the Laser Enhanced Air Flow (LEAF) technology prevailed.
The award was accepted by Dr. Tobias Dyck, Head of the Business Line and project representative.
“LEAF Laser Riblets – Shark Skin for More Sustainable Aviation” is a project that uses laser interference technology to introduce microscopic structures over large areas into aircraft paint coatings. This surface functionalization reduces aerodynamic drag by up to five percent, enabling a reduction of annual fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by approximately one percent. This corresponds to annual cost savings in the billions.
“The award ceremony in the Coronation Hall was extremely impressive. It was moving to see people from the industry cheering us on and sharing our excitement. The overwhelmingly positive feedback is a motivating confirmation for our team that our work inspires far beyond the company itself,” says project manager Romina Villella.
CEO Jörg Jetter also expressed his great appreciation for the award: “We are, of course, absolutely thrilled by this recognition. The project is a major undertaking and requires a great deal of perseverance – making this kind of acknowledgment all the more valuable.”
