This edition of the Advanced Coating & Surface Technology Opportunity Engine (TOE) profiles significant advances in advanced coatings and surface treatments for various industrial applications. The featured innovations include smart coatings for real-time surface sensing, antifouling coatings for commercial vessel hull performance management, advanced hydrophilic coating platforms for minimally invasive medical devices, topical anti-fog surface coatings for flexible and rigid packaging, anti-reflective coatings for high-performance optical applications, parylene thin-film barrier coatings for advanced electronics, hydrophobic surface treatments for industrial flow systems, subsurface toughening layers for crack-resistant solid-state battery ceramics, ultra-thin lithium niobium oxide coatings for durable solid-state electric vehicle (EV) batteries, engineered protective coatings for extreme combustion environments, silicone-based low-per and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) coatings for non-stick surface applications and multilayer polyfluorosilicone coatings for extreme hydraulic infrastructure protection. These innovations enhance durability, functionality, efficiency, and sustainability across diverse industrial applications. The TOE also addresses key strategic questions, including:

• What factors are accelerating adoption of antifouling coatings for commercial vessel hull performance management and industrial applications?
• How are parylene thin-film barrier coatings creating opportunities for advanced electronics and high-performance applications?
• What role do hydrophobic surface treatments play in improving industrial flow systems, efficiency, and surface functionality?