Innovation Award 2024/25

Wiener Neustadt, March 27, 2025 - The Innovation Award was presented for the eighth time yesterday at Technopol Wiener Neustadt. With the Innovation Award, the initiators ecoplus, accent, tecnet equity and the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt motivate the local research community to address the commercial viability of their developments at an early stage. The top projects were honored by a jury of experts.

Innovative minds from the HTL and FH Wiener Neustadt were invited to take part in the Innovation Award, as were R&D institutions based at the ecoplus TFZ Wiener Neustadt and spin-off projects from companies based at the ecoplus Technopol Wiener Neustadt.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Innovation and research hotspot Wiener Neustadt

"At the four ecoplus Technopol locations, we network research institutes, educational institutions and companies in order to jointly advance research at the highest level. The Technopol Wiener Neustadt has established itself as an international center for medical and material technologies. This year's winning projects impressively underline this strategic orientation and illustrate the enormous innovation potential at the location. For many years, the Innovation Award has been an important stimulus for the further development of innovations to market maturity and also makes a significant contribution to the identification of potential high-tech start-ups. I would like to congratulate the winners of the Innovation Award and wish them continued success," says Claus Zeppelzauer, ecoplus authorized signatory and Head of the Enterprise & Technology Division.

tecnet is the central point of contact for research institutions that drive innovation and supports aspiring scientists from the development of an innovative idea through to successful market entry. Thilo Schmalz, Technology Transfer Manager at tecnet equity, emphasizes: "It is important to us that young scientists develop an understanding of the commercial exploitation of research results at an early stage. We support this with our special ‘research-to-value next’ (r2v next) training courses, workshops and coaching sessions in order to create the conditions for the optimal implementation of research results on the market."

Michael Moll, Managing Director of accent Incubator, adds: "As the high-tech incubator of the state of Lower Austria, we are convinced that the identification of potential start-up ideas should begin as early as possible. We are therefore delighted that the Innovation Award has been successfully established."

"As a university of applied sciences, the FH Wiener Neustadt has been a source of research and innovation for more than 30 years. Our employees, students and graduates have been taking part in the award for many years and have already won many prizes. This year, we are honoring the great commitment from the university with a prize, which we are splitting between two (equally placed) FHWN projects. We are very proud of all our entrants from the FH Wiener Neustadt! Our FHWN StartUp Center supports many teams on their way to a possible company foundation," says Christoph Kuen, Managing Director of FH Wiener Neustadt.

Innovation Award 2024/25 - The winning projects

The award was presented by a jury of experts in three categories. Two further submissions were honored by the FH Wiener Neustadt. The Innovation Award is endowed with € 1,500 per category.

The prize money was donated by ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH as part of the Technopol Wiener Neustadt, tecnet equity NÖ Technologiebeteiligungs-Invest GmbH, accent Inkubator GmbH and the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt GmbH.

CATEGORY: START-UP - INNOVATIVE BUSINESS IDEAS / SPONSOR ACCENT INKUBATOR

• Surface Investigation Tool: Simultaneous Mass & Charge Analysis

A new type of multi-sensor system has been developed that enables simultaneous optical and electrical surface analysis of a wide variety of (e.g. biological) materials. This was implemented on a chip that could be produced cost-effectively and on an industrial scale.

Roger Hasler, Christoph Kleber and Wolfgang Knoll from Danube Private University

CATEGORY: MEDICINE, MEDICAL ENGINEERING, INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCES / SPONSOR TECNET EQUITY

• Innovative sliding element for joint regeneration with smart functionality

The innovation lies in a special combination of implant material, its surface and structure. A chemically and mechanically anchored functional layer with optimum gliding properties and durability has been developed for the treatment of knee joint damage, for example. The innovative implants could enable gentler surgical procedures and better rehabilitation of affected patients.

Rosa Maria Nothnagel, Timea Váradi, Leonarda Vukonic, Friedrich Franek and Manel Rodriguez Ripoll from AC2T research GmbH

CATEGORY: INNOVATIONS IN THE FIELDS OF MATERIALS, SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES, SENSORS / SPONSOR ECOPLUS - TECHNOPOL WIENER NEUSTADT

• Bioresorbable and locally antibacterial implant for use in heart valve surgery

A pioneering combination of materials has been developed that combines complete bioresorbability (i.e. the material can dissolve in the body and be absorbed by the tissue) with a long-term antibacterial effect. (i.e. the material can dissolve in the body and is absorbed by the tissue) in conjunction with a long-term antibacterial effect, thereby improving the treatment of damaged heart valves. This could significantly increase patient safety.

Laszlo Sajti and Mariangela Fedel from RHP-Technology GmbH

CATEGORY: FHWN INNOVATION AWARD 2025

• Solo Leveling - Train like never before

The innovation lies in a combination of an AI-supported fitness app with automatic motion detection (with the help of sensors), gamification elements and personalized training plans. The aim is to make fitness training more efficient, entertaining, motivating and easily accessible.

Mustafa Algan from the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt (Robotics department)

• BMap - The smart solution for musicians and studios

The project developed a smart solution that makes it easier to connect musicians with music infrastructure (rehearsal rooms, home studios, studios, etc.) and with each other. BMap is designed as an innovative platform for the music industry and should help musicians to find rehearsal rooms/studios more easily, support musicians in networking and collaboration or help to exchange content (such as workshops or beatpacks). Musicians should be supported in their creative process and especially in their access to resources.

Kerstin Hirsch, Master's student at FH Wiener Neustadt (together with the BMap team)