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.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: