Method for producing metallic surface discharge electrodes on nonmetallic substrates comprising the following steps: a) producing a metallic seed layer on a substrate; b) electrically contacting the seed layer with a metal wire network and an electrolyte containing metal ions; c) electrodepositing a metal film from the electrolyte at least on the seed layer, with the metal wire network being embedded into the metal film, wherein d) metal wire filaments that are movable relative to one another are arranged to form an electrically percolating metal wire network, e) the arrangement of the metal wire filaments is cast into a gel and the gel is dried thereafter to the gel matrix, and f) the dried gel matrix with the metal wire network embedded therein is applied to the substrate and is wetted with a solvent of the gel matrix. Furthermore, the invention relates to a semifinished product for carrying out the method.