Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Joanneum Research and Incus awarded the research prize, first awarding of the Mariella Schurz Prize
Vienna (OTS) – On April 25, 2024, the B&C Private Foundation awarded the Houska Prize, the largest private prize for applied research in Austria with an endowment of 750,000 euros. The Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) received the award in the “University Research” category for its work on organoid models of human brain development and brain disorders. Joanneum Research impressed the jury in the “Extra-University Research” category with the development of a dermal open microperfusion to demonstrate the effectiveness of medications. In the “Research & Development in SMEs” category, the company Incus was awarded with light for the development of a novel metal 3D printing process. The first place winners will each receive prize money of 150,000 euros.
In front of an audience of around 400 high-profile guests from business and science, the B&C Private Foundation honored Austria’s groundbreaking research projects with the renowned Houska Prize at a festive awards ceremony in the Aula der Wissenschaften in Vienna on April 25, 2024. The research prize was once again awarded in the three categories “University Research”, “Non-University Research” and “Research & Development in SMEs”. The 19th Houska Prize ceremony kicked off with the Houska Talk with the internationally renowned AI expert and lawyer Sandra Wachter from the University of Oxford on the topic “How intelligent is artificial intelligence?”. In addition, in memory of the long-time Secretary General of the B&C Private Foundation, the Mariella Schurz Prize was awarded in cooperation with the BG/BRG Klosterneuburg. The well-known presenter Isabella Richtar hosted the evening for the fourth time.
„Research and innovation are crucial for overcoming numerous current and future challenges and for strengthening the country as a business location. A thriving research landscape and recognition of the people behind the scientific breakthroughs are essential. The B&C Private Foundation is committed to this with the Houska Prize
“, said Erich Hampel, Chairman of the B&C Private Foundation. “I congratulate the award winners and all other nominees. They embody excellent research and innovative strength in our country.
“
1st place university research: Austrian Academy of Sciences for organoid models of human brain development
Of the five nominated submissions in the “University Research” category, Jürgen Knoblich, Professor at the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) in Vienna, took first place in the Houska Prize with the project “Organoid Model of Human Brain Development and Disorder”. prize money of 150,000 euros. Knoblich and his team have succeeded in reproducing the processes of brain development in the laboratory, from individual parts to complete circuits, using human stem cells. These brain organoids enable the study of brain diseases and therapeutic substances directly on human tissue.
1st place non-university research: Joanneum Research research company for “dermal open microperfusion”
In the “Extra-university Research” category, Katrin Tiffner and her research group from the Institute Health of the Joanneum Research Research Society in Graz won with the project: “Dermal open microperfusion – proof of the effectiveness of medications”. In this innovative method, interstitial fluid is continuously removed from the skin using a minimally invasive probe. The collected liquid makes it possible to determine whether the drug penetrates the skin barrier, in what concentration it reaches the skin and what effect it causes there. This significantly speeds up the development and approval process of medications, while at the same time significantly saving costs.
1st place research & development in SMEs: Incus for the metal 3D printing process with light
In the “Research & Development in SMEs” category, the Vienna-based company Incus GmbH impressed the Houska Prize expert committees with the “LMM: Metal 3D printing with light” project and received prize money of 150,000 euros. This process enables the production of high-precision components without the use of support structures or the subsequent assembly of individual parts and thereby immensely reduces the effort for post-processing due to the high level of detail and the outstanding surface quality.
Research project “Feeblin” awarded the Mariella Schurz Prize 2024 by CeMM
The “Feeblin” project by Giulio Superti-Furga and his team from the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences received the Mariella Schurz Prize for a new therapeutic approach to autoimmune diseases. This special prize was awarded for the first time in honor of Mariella Schurz, the long-time Secretary General of the B&C Private Foundation. Because of their commitment, the Houska Prize has acquired an important status in the promotion of top Austrian research. All 15 nominated projects were subjected to an additional evaluation by the BG/BRG Klosterneuburg student body as a jury. In addition to the specially designed Houska Prize statue, the prize also includes material value of 5,000 euros.
Houska talk with AI expert Sandra Wachter: “How intelligent is artificial intelligence?”
Sandra Wachter, a doctor of law and internationally renowned IT expert at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford, spoke in the “Houska Talk” on the topic “How intelligent is artificial intelligence?” She dealt with ethical challenges in dealing with artificial intelligence and the balance between technological progress and ethical principles. “Using AI systems based on historical data risks reproducing pre-existing biases. In order to prevent unconscious discrimination, it is essential that everyone involved works together to identify and combat potential bias,” says Sandra Wachter.
The other placements at the Houska Prize 2024
The categories were judged separately by high-profile expert committees. The Houska Prize is endowed with a total of 750,000 euros: the first place winners received prize money of 150,000 euros each, the second place winners received 60,000 euros each and the third placed winners received 20,000 euros each, and the other nominees received 10,000 euros each.
Category “University Research”:
2nd place: Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Vienna
Project: Feeblin: A new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases
Project management: Prof. Dr. Giulio Superti Furga
3rd place: Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Materials Science and Technology (WWWT)
Project: Carved in Stone – Humanity Data for Eternity
Project management: Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Paul Mayrhofer
Nominated: Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Institute for Intelligent System Technologies
Project: Miniature Helicopter Localization for Robust Long-Term Autonomy
Project management: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stephan Weiss, Christian Brommer, Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Hardt-Stremayr
Nominated: Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Automation and Control Engineering (ACIN)
Project: High-precision scanning mirrors for 3D measurement technology and satellite communication
Project management: Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. George Schitter
Category “Extra-university research”:
2. Platz: Complexity Science Hub, Wien
Project: CryptoFinance – Insight into the complexity of cryptoasset ecosystems
Project management: Dipl.-Ing. Mag. Bernhard Haslhofer
3rd place: ACMIT Gmbh – Austrian Center for Medical Innovation and Technology, Lower Austria
Project: RALV – Experience achievable vision
Project management: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Martin Kornfeld
Nominated: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Upper Austria
Project: Development of additional materials for additive manufacturing of large metal components
Project management: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Thomas Klein
Nominated: JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Styria
Project: NextGenMicrofluidics
Project management: Dr. Martin Smolka
Category “Research & Development in SMEs”:
2nd place: RHP-Technology GmbH, Lower Austria
Project: MeDiCo
Project management: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Erich Neubauer
3rd place: decide Clinical Software GmbH, Styria
Project: GlucoTab
Project management: Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Krug
Nominated: IB Lab GmbH, Vienna
Project: IB Lab FLAMINGO: AI-supported radiological diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures
Project management: Dr. Christoph Götz
Nominated: REVOTEC zt gmbh, Vienna
Project: E-BOLT – an intelligent mechanical fastener
Project management: Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.habil. Michael Reiterer
Additional Information:
About the B&C Private Foundation:
The B&C Private Foundation (www.bcprivatstiftung.at) is an independent Austrian foundation that has pursued the goal of promoting Austrian entrepreneurship since it was founded in December 2000. This is achieved in particular through long-term majority investments via the B&C Group in the Austrian industrial companies AMAG Austria Metall AG, Lenzing AG and Semperit AG Holding and through investments in technology growth companies (www.bcgruppe.at). The B&C Private Foundation promotes Austria as a business and business location through numerous projects and initiatives that actively contribute to improving the economic and legal framework conditions in Austria. These include the Houska Prize (www.houskapreis.at), the location initiative eXplore! (www.explore.university) and the MEGA Education Foundation (www.megabildung.at).
Questions & Contact:
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