SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
As part of the comprehensive premium partnership, Focused Energy will also serve as the main partner of SV Darmstadt 98’s upcoming US tour in September. In addition to the use of title and logo rights, the sponsorship includes advertising time on the TV-visible LED boards and prominent logo placement on a mega banner in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The package also includes targeted incentive programs and is rounded off with an exclusive hospitality arrangement.
This collaboration brings together two partners who, despite their different fields of activity, share core values: commitment, team spirit, precision, and the ambition to continuously improve. While SV Darmstadt 98 stands for passionate dedication and top athletic performance in professional football, Focused Energy is working on one of the greatest technological challenges of our time – the development of energy generation through laser fusion.
The partnership also underscores the importance of Darmstadt as a centre for science, technology, and elite sports. Both partners see themselves as part of a regional ecosystem that promotes innovation and has international appeal.
Volker Harr, Vice President of SV Darmstadt 98: “Despite our completely different areas of operation, Focused Energy and we share clear values: a commitment to performance, perfect teamwork, and meticulous attention to detail. This is complemented by the ambition to continuously improve. We are very much looking forward to working closely with a company that stands for progress and ambition, making it an excellent fit for us.”
Martin Kowalewski, Managing Director of SV Darmstadt 98: “With Focused Energy, we are gaining a partner who shares our commitment to development and innovation. Football thrives on emotions, dynamism, and team spirit – just as major scientific projects thrive on precision, perseverance, and a shared vision.”
“We are delighted to be able to support SV Darmstadt 98. As a company with roots in Darmstadt, it is important to us to give something back to the region. SV 98 stands for unity, a sense of belonging, and identification – precisely the values that drive us,” says Günter Kraft, Chief Communications & Government Relations Officer of Focused Energy. “SV Darmstadt 98 reaches people who may never have heard of laser fusion, and that is exactly what is valuable to us. We want to engage in conversation with fans, schools, companies, and everyone who wants to know what this technology means for their region,” Günter Kraft continued.
Prof. Dr. Markus Roth, CSO and co-founder of the merged company, adds: “Biblis is located in the heart of Hesse and has a long history in the energy sector – now we want to make this place a symbol for the energy future. For this, we need the people of the region, industry, and politics to be involved in shaping the future. A club like SV Darmstadt 98, which is deeply rooted in this region and stands for unity, is an ideal partner. What we build together should originate here and have an impact far beyond Hesse.”
In addition to its headquarters in Darmstadt, Focused Energy has another company location in Austin, Texas. Through its cooperation with San Antonio FC, SV 98 also maintains a very close connection to the US state and will travel to the United States for a pre-season tour this coming September. Focused Energy will be the main partner of this tour as part of the newly established partnership.
Focused Energy is a German-American fusion company headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, with offices in Berlin, Austin, and San Francisco. Founded in 2021 by a team from the Technical University of Darmstadt, the company employs approximately 200 leading scientists and engineers from more than 33 nations.
Its goal is to transfer fusion technology from research to industrial application and, together with partners from industry and academia, to build the world’s first laser fusion power plant in Biblis, Germany, by the mid-2030s.
As a leading laser fusion company, Focused Energy pursues a consistently industry-oriented approach: Building on decades of international fusion research and the technological expertise of its founders, the company combines scientific excellence with the speed and scalability of a privately funded high-tech enterprise.
Fusion is a future technology with great potential for new value creation structures and will create a climate-neutral, secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply. In fusion, hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium at high temperatures. This process releases an enormous amount of energy: One gram of fusion fuel provides energy comparable to around eleven tons of coal.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.