42 minute read
Smart and innovative – Austria’s youth show us what they can do
by medianet
Every year Austrian students compete in the fields of technology and innovation, incorporating ingenuity and dedication.
There isn’t enough praise and support to go round for those who will hopefully become part of the coming generation of scientists and be greatly involved in Austria’s success in the field of research and development. We are, of course, referring to the participants of the annual school competitions that are dedicated to innovation and technology. We have chosen two from a very long list: “Jugend Innovativ” (innovative youth) and “Technik für’s Leben” (technology for life) prizes. The large number of entries in both competitions would be too extensive to cover in this article, which is why we have unfortunately decided to “only” introduce the contestants in first place.
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The winning teams of the 34th competition round of “Jugend Innovativ” were presented in the competition’s first virtual awards show. The participating pupils and apprentices not only wowed the jury, they also clearly managed to prove how much innovative strength, ingenuity and dedication they have within.
Every year the competition shines a spotlight onto outstanding young talent and recognises the innovative achievements of Austria’s pupils and apprentices. This year, out of 333 entries, seven teams managed to get to the top spot (double win in Design). Two teams were from Carinthia, two from Vienna and the other three were from Salzburg, Lower Austria and Upper Austria respectively.
Supported by two Federal Ministries
“Jugend Innovativ” is the biggest and smartest school competition for innovative ideas in Austria. The competition allows young people to further develop, realise and present their own ideas to the public. The competition is run on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs as well as the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice AWS and is supported by the Raiffeisen sustainability initiative.
“’Jugend Innovativ’ proves that good ideas have nothing to do with age. Instead, what the pupils and apprentices have shown us this year is how one can successfully create innovations”, says Margarete Schramböck, Federal Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs. She also emphasised that “this is exactly what we need right now, particularly in times like these. The level of drive and enterprising spirit displayed by young people here is sure to secure not only a financial comeback but also Austria’s place as a country of innovation in the long-term”.
Heinz Faßmann, Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research, referred to the outstanding achievements taking place in Austria’s schools: “What these young people have created as part of ‘Jugend Innovativ’ is unique. With the aid of dedicated teachers, extremely special projects have emerged and are a good starting point for young scientists. Receiving support in this initial stage is particularly important in order to illustrate what professional possibilities there are and make use of potential”.
© Parlamentsdirektion/Thomas Topf
HASCY – (HTLs Asfinag Safety Cat) – the tunnel drone. A collaboration between two HTLs in Klagenfurt, Carinthia (HTL1 Lastenstraße and HTL Mössingerstraße).
The competition has been funded for more than 13 years by the Raiffeisen Nachhaltigkeits-Initiative RNI (Raiffeisen sustainability initiative): “It is very important to the Raiffeisen Nachhaltigkeits-Initiative to promote awareness for climate protection and sustainability among young people as early possible. We are therefore thrilled by the high level and diversity of topics featured in the projects, a commitment that we are rewarding once more this year with an award”, emphasised Andrea Sihn-Weber, CEO of RNI.
Creative and innovative diversity
More than 800 pupils and apprentices took part in “Jugend Innovativ” in the academic year of 2020/2021. 333 project ideas were submitted, demonstrating their creative potential and innovative capacity. The 30 teams in the final were particularly challenged during the online nationwide final. For the first time in the history of the competition, the teams presented their creative and smart developments to individual expert judges within the framework of virtual project updates and online pitches to the jury and answered the experts’ questions. There was also support and preparatory workshops, which were completed enthusiastically by the participants in the run-up to the competition. The jury was extremely impressed by the standard of this year’s projects and increased the prizes by choosing a double victory, among other things.
The prize-winning projects at a glance
The following seven projects were awarded 2.000 euros each.
Joint first prize for design:
Smart Kitchen Devices for Philips (HTBLVA Ferlach, Carinthia). A cordless family kitchen appliance with a common base station, intended to inspire regional, sustainable cooking, even when you are short on time. This was developed by a project team from Ferlach using an unconventional method. Klein-Venedig-Unterach am Attersee (HTBLuVA Salzburg). Like a turbine, this building design twists upwards towards the sky. The project team from HTBLuVA Salzburg designed down to the smallest detail, a gastronomical pearl with a cultural foundation in the form of a museum.
First prize winners:
First prize for Engineering I: HASCY (HTLs Asfinag Safety Cat) – the tunnel drone (collaborative project). A large-scale project undertaken by two HTL schools in Klagenfurt (HTL 1 Lastenstraße and HTL Mössingerstraße, both from Carinthia) on motorway safety: A camera carriage slide on the top of the tunnel roof uses the latest camera technology to provide instant clear pictures of dangerous situations. First prize for Engineering II: EyeSpeaker (TGM School for Technology, Vienna). Two pupils at the Vienna TGM have managed to free people a little from locked-in syndrome: a mix of eye recogni-
tion and tables permits people to communicate through blinking. First prize for Science: The identification and effects of radioactive materials on freshwater and saltwater animals (HLUW Yspertal, Lower Austria). The consequences of the large nuclear accidents in 1986 and 2011 can still be seen in the radiation levels of aquatic animals. Two pupils from HLUW Yspertal have precisely remeasured and found out which fish have taken in the least dangerous levels. First prize for Entrepreneurship: ThatLearningApp (collaborative project between TGM – School for Technology in Vienna and ITHTL Ybbs and HLW Haag in Lower Austria). The world is my school. They come from three different schools and are taking learning to a new level: this team from Vienna and Lower Austria has created an online platform where personalised lessons among youths can take place on an equal footing.
First prize for Sustainability funded by the Raiffeisen sustaina-
bility initiative: Organic straw insulation (HTL Braunau, Upper Austria). The construction industry produces a sinful amount of CO2, now two pupils from HTL Braunau are taking a plunge into this industry with a revolutionary suggestion: a straw insulating board made of purely organic bonding agents, which are 100 percent degradable.
Second and third prize winners
The second prizes, worth 1.500 euros each, were awarded in the following categories to: HTBLuVA St. Pölten, Lower Austria, for the development of a remote controlled slope mower; Design, HTL 1 Lastenstraße, Carinthia, for their 3D printing with recycled raw materials; Engineering I, HTBLA Neufelden, Upper Austria, for CASA – Camera Aided Sheet Analyzer; Engineering II, HTL for Food Technology Wels, Upper Austria, for their Vegan Broad Bean Drink; Science, HTL Vienna West for a coronavirus traffic light system with CO2 measuring; for entrepreneurship and in the category of sustainability the prize went to HTBL Pinkafeld, Burgenland, for Bambus, a green alternative – assessment of local bamboo provisions and their suitability as a construction material.
The third prize, worth 1.000 euros per category, was awarded in Engineering I to HTBLA Neufelden (Upper Austria) for their autonomous harvesting robot, for Engineering II the prize went to the Austrian school Shkodra Albania for motion track, in the category of Science it went to HLUW Yspertal (Lower Austria) for their project on the effects of glacier coverings with regard to ecology and tourism, and for Entrepreneurship it went to the Vienna HTBLVA Spengergasse for the FoodAid project: Eat it, don’t waste it! In the category of Sustainability there was a joint prize for three entries: solar blind from HTL 3 Rennweg (Vienna), the decreasing of ammonia emissions given off from liquid manure through tannin from HBLA Ursprung (Salzburg) and RECPEAT – peat substitutes from natural waste materials from HTL Braunau (Upper Austria).
Award for the most innovative schools in Austria
From all the participating schools within the framework of “Jugend Innovativ”, the ones with the most best-quality projects in their province were awarded prizes and the title “Most Innovative School in the Province”. The title of “Most Innovative School” was awarded this year in the 34th competition round in Vienna to HTL 3 Rennweg, in Burgenland to HTBL Pinkafeld, in Lower Austria to HLUW Yspertal, in Upper Austria to HTL Braunau, in Salzburg to HTL Saalfelden and in Carinthia to HTBLVA Ferlach.
They go international
In addition, selected teams were nominated for international events. EyeSpeaker by TGM – the School for Technology in Vienna, the identification and effects of radioactive exposure on freshwater and saltwater animals by HLUW Yspertal and organic straw insulation by HTL Braunau will all be taking part (virtually) in the EU Contest for Young Scientists.
At the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, the following were all present: Bambus as a green alternative (2nd prize for Sustainability), FoodAid
© Team EyeSpeaker
Edeltraud Stinftinger and Bernhard Sagmeister, CEOs of AWS, emphasise how invaluable it is for the projects to participate in the Dubai Expo 2020.
(3rd prize for Entrepreneurship), smartLantern (recognition award for Engineering I) as well as Green H2 (the 2020 winning project for Sustainability). “The projects for the ‘Jugend Innovativ’ competition impressively display just how much educational know-how our youth possesses. The creativity and talent of our pupils are internationally sought after. I am particularly pleased that we will be able to showcase our accomplishments at the 2020 Expo in Dubai on a large, international stage”, says the government commissioner responsible for the world exhibition, Beatrix Karl, who was very impressed.
“This year’s winners have managed to beat a total of 333 project teams and wow the jury with their outstanding projects. Now these young people will also get the chance to see how they measure up against the best of the best on the international stage. We are therefore especially pleased that the prize winners are able to not only take part in renowned competitions, but will also be present this year at the World Expo. This exchange is a really important experience for the young people and gives a boost to projects as well as further professional pathways as entrepreneurs or scientists”, say Edeltraud Stiftinger and Bernhard Sagmeister, CEOs of AWS.
Technology for Life – 2021 Bosch prize
The industry has also been aware of young people’s ingenuity for quite some time. For their part, they offer prizes or act as a collaborating partners. Bosch is no exception. Having been present in Austria since 1899, it is today represented in all four business sectors: Mobility solutions, industrial technology, consumer goods as well as energy and building technology. International competence centres for the development of mobility solutions are located in Vienna, Linz and Hallein. Around one third of the workforce in Austria is employed in the area of research and development. So, it seems logical that the most promising pupils get their foot in the door. And what better way to do it than through a competition?
The Bosch group’s Technology for Life Prize has started an initiative in Austria that has been encouraging young talent and supporting their start into working life for 13 years. According to the company, the name speaks for itself: Technology for Life, which stands for reliable, well thought-out, and innovative solutions that make our lives easier.
The winners of the 2021 Technology for Life Prize were once again picked this year in a two-step evaluation process: In the first step, selected Bosch experts carry out a pre-evaluation of the projects for the star-studded main jury, which will make the final assessments in the second step and select the winner of the Technology for Life Prize.
The prize winners will get the much-coveted chance to do a 6-month internship at Bosch Group in Austria as well as an invitation to have an exclusive look “BehindTheScenes@Bosch” at a Bosch location in Austria.
Helmut Weinwurm, who is the sole managing director of Robert Bosch AG and representative of the Bosch Group in Austria, was one of the panel members. He was impressed by the many projects on the topics of Internet of things and connectivity: “For us at Bosch, digitisation and connectivity are particularly important. Here we are increasingly seeing what role the Internet of things and services plays in our daily life and just how important it is to rapidly find solutions that will meet these needs”. He himself graduated from a HTL (Higher Technical Education Institute) and so can appreciate this type of school. “HTLs in Austria represent a real melting pot of talents. We at Bosch will also play a leading role in the development of technology in future. In Austria, we run a range of international competence centres for development and manufacturing within the Bosch Group. In order to do this, we will also need skilled employees in the future. Education is the raw material of the future and this includes training at a HTL”.
Not only Weinwurm but the entire panel for the Technology for Life Prize was incredibly impressed while evaluating the 67 dissertations handed in by the Austrian HTL graduates. 196 pupils from 20 HTLs in eight federal provinces took part this year in the largest company-initiated HTL competition in Austria.
Winner of the Connected Living category: BloodFlowMonitoring
Matthias Brinskelle, Christoph Voith, Nenad Avramovic and Philipp Eidkum from TGM Vienna have developed a very practical method for measuring blood flow: BloodFlowMonitoring. Blood flow is measured using optical sensors in the ears and pulse rate monitors around the neck. Additionally, diodes are fitted on both earlobes, which transmit light; the light is recorded by receptors and displayed as a chart on the computer. Sensors are also placed around the neck to measure the pulse. “Measuring blood flow is relatively laborious and occasionally painful. This method makes it all easier. The project targets health issues and therefore concerns us all. This is why it fits in perfectly with the Technology for Life Prize”, says juror Andrea Scheichl, Vice President of Service & Support at the Austrian Patent Office.
Winner of Mobility Solutions: Tunnel surveillance system HASCY
The HTLs Mössingerstraße and Lastenstraße from Klagenfurt, Carinthia, were able to secure themselves the winning spot in the category of Mobility Solutions with their HASCY project, in collaboration with Asfinag. (This is now well-known – HASCY also won in the “Jugend Innovativ” competition mentioned before in the category of Engineering I).
In order to be able to monitor every section of a motorway tunnel, Gilbert Tanner, Gabriel Tanner and Andreas Maier from HTL Mössingerstraße in Klagenfurt, developed an innovative solution. They worked together with Emanuel Ladinig, Daniel Morak, Luca Jörg, Lukas Frisch and Dominik Jerey from HTL Lastenstraße, along with Asfinag. They developed HASCY, a cutesy acronym for HTLs Asfinag Safety Cat, which is a carriage slide equipped with several cameras that runs the length of the tunnel on tracks positioned on the roof of the tunnel. As there is also a thermal imaging camera fixed to it, it is possible to detect people even through the thickest fumes. This means that emergency services can carry out their jobs more effectively and the survival chance for an accident victim is higher. HASCY can run up to 100 km/h in the tunnel and is operated remotely at the Asfinag maintenance control rooms.
During standard operations, HASCY can be used to monitor the transport of dangerous goods in the tunnel or to pre-emptively detect possible danger. HASCY is a collaborative project by project teams of both the HTLs in Klagenfurt: the track system including the carriage slide was manufactured by HTL Lastenstraße, the control of the cameras, video surveillance, position detection as well as the controlling of the slide carriage was carried out by HTL
© Bosch
The jury for the 2021 Technology for Life Prize: Wolfgang Kern (Ministry for Education, Science and Research), Helmut Weinwurm (sole managing director of Robert Bosch AG and representative of the Bosch Group in Austria), Andrea Scheichl (Vice President of Service and Support at the Austrian patent office), Wilfried Sihn (Vienna University of Technology and CEO of Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH), Bernhard Geringer (Vienna University of Technology) and Angelika Kiessling (Bosch Austria), who is in charge of the Technology for Life Prize.
Mössingerstraße. Both the comprehensive collaborative work between HTLs as well as the scope and usefulness of the project impressed the panel for the Technology for Life Prize. “This is a very well-rounded project; from the construction of the mechanical parts, the electronic systems and the connectivity all the way to the practical testing. What’s more, the benefits to society are huge and it can clearly be broadly applied, making it real technology for life”, explains panel member Bernhard Geringer, CEO for the Institute for Powertrains and Automotive Technology at the Vienna University of Technology.
Winner of the Industrial Technology category: autonomous harvesting robot
No strangers to the competition, in 3rd place in the “Jugend Innovativ” category for Engineering I, the winners were: Jonas Koblmüller, Christian Schlechtl, Jakob Lang and Thomas Prieschl from HTL Neufelden in Upper Austria, who developed and built a harvesting robot that gathers marigold flower heads for the production of ointments and tea. The invention consists of a self-propelled, autonomously driven harvesting robot that can withstand all weather conditions. It also reacts appropriately to constantly changing surroundings thanks to artificial intelligence, which is handy as no flower is the same as the next. “It has an extremely complex system which touches on different special areas, such as connectivity, autonomous driving, mechanics, optronics that recognises the marigolds. All these factors were outstandingly resolved, documented and presented, making it a worthy winner of the Technology for Life Prize”, says juror Wilfried Sihn, CEO of Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH and board director for the Vienna University of Technology Institute of Management Science, Industrial Engineering and System Planning.
Every participant is a winner
According to juror, Wolfgang Kern, head of the department II/2 for technical schools for commerce and arts at the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research: “The reason why it’s important for pupils at HTLs to take part in competitions like the Technology for Life Prize is that it is the first big stage on which they can showcase their abilities and what they have learnt. It’s particularly exciting because it’s in the field of technology and always moving with the times. And it’s somewhat of a yardstick to see how well we’re connected with technology and what young people can achieve. It’s like a view or a window into the future”. And by the looks of the participants’ projects, that view certainly does look promising. ◆
Innovative raw material extraction from Austria
To some it’s simply rubbish but for an Austrian start-up it is the basis for power generation and phosphorus recovery.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT) has successfully completed its work on the masterplan Raw Materials 2030 and earmarked its publication for December 2021. The aim is to find innovative and future-oriented opportunities to strengthen regions and to create domestic added value. Strengthening Austria as a business location and the steady expansion of the circular economy are other main objectives. The BMLRT’s masterplan Raw Materials 2030 and its general support of municipalities aim to find pilot regions for innovative projects to encourage young, up-and-coming companies that offer solutions in the gentle extraction of raw materials and within the concepts of the circular economy.
Austria and its consumption of raw materials
In general, as much as 25 percent of Austria’s gross domestic product is generated by the domestic raw and basic material generation. Here, about one million people are employed in the extraction and processing of raw materials. In 2018, around 80 million tonnes of construction raw materials were used throughout Austria for the creation and maintenance of infrastructure. Among other things, this is also to meet the requirements due to increased mobility and the climatic conditions. Also in 2018, Austria consumed a total of about 167 million tonnes of natural resources, most of which represented non-metallic minerals.
Phosphorus, for example, has been classified as a critical raw material by the European Union. The demand for phosphorus in the EU is to be partly covered by its recovery (Communication from the Commission on the list of critical raw materials for the EU, COM(2017) 490 final - 13/09/2017). For this reason, phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge is mandatory. It is expected that after a transition period, no sewage sludge from medium-sized and large sewage treatment plants (population of 20,000 and more) may be used as fertiliser. At the same time, recovery of phosphorus contained in sewage sludge will be legally mandatory (to be regulated in the AVV Waste Incineration Regulation). It is expected that the regulation will come into force in 2023. In Germany this is already regulated by law.
Contact for the industrial sector
Andreas Weber Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism Section IV – Department for Telecommunications, Postal Services and Mining +43 1 711 62-653201 +43 6642645017 Radetzkystraße 2, 1030 Vienna andreas.weber@bmlrt.gv.at www.bmlrt.gv.at
Contact for the mining industry
Thomas Spörker Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism Department IV/6: Mining – Technology and Safety 43 1 71100 608540 Denisgasse 31, 1200 Vienna thomas.spoerker@bmlrt.gv.at www.bmlrt.gv.at
BMLRT ©
Steadily working towards DenkGrün’s vision: “Imagine a world where all biological waste is used for energy storage and raw material production.”
Innovative start-up DenkGrün
The desire to minimise the volume of all organic and plastics waste draws attention to a recently founded, promising Austrian start-up – DenkGrün (ThinkGreen). DenkGrün offers municipalities sensible operating solutions as well as various partner models which can be adapted to individual municipalities. The startup builds and operates plants with which sewage sludge but also plastic waste and liquid manure can be used for raw material extraction and power generation. As in the past, Austrian municipalities are obliged to pay for the disposal of sewage sludge. Thus, the general costs are massively reduced by a DenkGrün plant and, in addition, the phosphorus recovery, which will be obligatory in 2030, can be covered.
In addition to safe and cost-efficient disposal of sewage sludge from biological wastewater treatment plants, the focus is on the recovery of valuable substances such as phosphorus and nitrogen, and the associated closing of material cycles, while simultaneously eliminating pollutants. The possibility of recovering raw materials from sewage sludge can ensure affordable sewage sludge disposal in the long term. The DenkGrün plants also produce electricity, which is fed into the municipal grid.
DenkGrün focuses roughly on three essential things: disposal optimisation, phosphorus recovery and power generation.
The work and visions of the Austrian start-up company stand out – at present there is no comparable solution on the world market.
Solutions against climate change for cities and municipalities
Every municipality and every city can make a meaningful contribution to climate protection without high investment costs. The start-up is pursuing this mission with an innovative process that recovers all the valuable raw materials from biological waste, produces green energy and at the same time reduces waste that is normally incinerated by up to 90 percent. This happens for example at sewage treatment plants, directly where sewage sludge is produced, or in recycling companies that also want to recover valuable recyclable materials from wastewater or waste products.
The objective is clear: Cycles must be closed and harmful emissions must be reduced. DenkGrün is convinced that they can use every resource – even the smallest resource – to help our environment and the climate.
Domestic safety from all sides
Austria isn’t a safe country just like that. The programmes KIRAS and FORTE play a major role in our security.
The emergence of a wide variety of natural disasters and threats to individual security is a constant companion in our everyday lives. As in the previous year, in 2021 the ongoing pandemic and all the associated risks that restrict our public life and threaten Austria as a business location dominated. Austria must also counter these threats with the appropriate research and applied technologies.
Therefore, Austrian has the security research programme KIRAS and the defence research programme FORTE, which fund research projects with an average of 14 million euros annually in order to be prepared for the types of challenges mentioned above.
Research for security
Whether it is the support of emergency responders, the protection of critical infrastructure or the development of improved hygiene concepts for the Austrian tourism sector, which was heavily impacted by the pandemic, with forward-looking technologies – the decisive factor is that the research projects help continue to guarantee the actual, but also economic security and wellbeing of Austrians. An essential means to this end is the utilisation of research results. Only if these findings are also applied in a timely manner can they unfold their full benefit and help in overcoming current crises or even prevent the emergence of future crisis. Successful solutions can in turn strengthen the domestic economy, not least if they are exported as concepts to other countries through technology transfers and thus contribute to increasing value creation and securing jobs in Austria. In order to provide some illustration in addition to the theory and dry figures, we would like to present some Austrian-led projects from our tenders below:
KIRAS projects with added value – BioCapture
Emerging from the KIRAS project BioCapture, which facilitates mobile identification in police operations, HygienicHotel, a pilot project for contactless and secure guest identification, is being launched in cooperation with the Austrian Hoteliers Association (ÖHV) as a response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In order to make the services offered to guests in the tourism sector more hygienic, faster and safer, a contactless identification system is an interesting addition to the conventional chip card system. Waiting times are particularly unpleasant for guests, as valuable free time is lost.
The prototype implementation reduces the identification process to single seconds. A hygienic, fast and secure access system would also be a worldwide novelty and Austria would position itself at the forefront of technology in regard to hygienic access systems for guests and visitors. The value chain already starts with the production and manufacturing of the system and the devices in Austria, where numerous companies offer their knowhow. End customers would be not only hotels but also stadiums, amusement parks, museums, buildings and event venues and other leisure facilities with restricted access.
KIRAS projects with added value – Securestamp
Paper and plastic tickets are used in many of these abovementioned facilities, areas and their surroundings but also in public transport, at events, or for general access control. However, the production and circulation of counterfeit documents is also a widespread problem. This is where the KIRAS project Securestamp comes in, which is developing an overall system that allows such forgeries on original paper to be detected securely and easily by
Security at a glance Annual budget: 14 mln euros Subsidies for research facilities and businesses
KIRAS Civil security research 9 mln euros www.kiras.at
FORTE Defence research 5 mln euros www.forte-bmlrt.at
Head of programme: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism Programme implementation: Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG Call for tenders 2021: November 2021 to March 2022 Average project subsidy: 200,000 euros to 500,000 euros (max. 85 % of project costs) Project length: max. 3 years Technology readiness level: 4-6 Contact: Executive Department “Security Research and Technology Transfer” E-Mail: stabst.sifo-tt@bmlrt.gv.at
incorporating stochastic, non-reproducible security markers – like a fingerprint in an encrypted form that can be read out later with a mobile detection unit.
An offshoot of the bilateral German-Austrian Securestamp project, the short-term lifetime measurement of inserted homogeneous security particles, is currently being incorporated into the Doculus Lumus system. This is a kind of pocket microscope for checking passports, ID cards, banknotes and the like, which is used, for example, by border guards, police and customs officials. Through 15x or 22x magnification with a highquality glass lens system, the finest details such as paper fibres, printing artefacts and even the slightest deviations of the surface can be seen.
Security can also be learned
As important as general security itself is the training of those we entrust with ensuring it. The hitherto missing uniform and binding training and quality standards for security service providers as well as the development of a job description and a corresponding apprenticeship are implemented in the government programme 2020-2024 for internal security. Building on its predecessor, the AQUS II project researched inhibiting and promoting factors for the implementation of mandatory education and training and corresponding job profiles.
A system and actor analysis identified these factors at the macro, meso and micro levels in Austria; existing international curricula and job profiles were analysed, and future relevant threat situations were surveyed. In the meantime, certain draft curricula for (temporary/marginally employed) employees at events, among others, are already available. There is already a training course model for security personnel in the critical infrastructure and essential inputs for a “security teaching profession”.
The subsidies from KIRAS and FORTE are available to all researchers and businesses that want to tackle tomorrow’s challenges in terms of security policy with their innovative ideas. Let’s stay secure!
The new strategic technology-product maps of the BMLRT show at a glance which technologies are available – for different sectors in different industries.
Technology only makes sense when it is applied. After all, the money invested in research and development only achieves economic sustainability if it can be translated into marketable products and services – and thus into jobs. The individual technology sectors have a very high proportion of applied research and innovation. They stand for highly qualified employment, bundle technological core competencies and have a high share in the development of precisely these competencies. What’s more, international demand is growing.
The international technology markets are exposed to fierce competition. In addition to close networking within Europe, the development of new, unsaturated growth markets is therefore also of great importance for technology transfers. A prerequisite for this is a sound knowledge of the products, the stakeholders and the nature and dynamics of the technology markets outside Europe.
Austrian companies are world market leaders in many technology areas, especially in niche applications. Cutting-edge technology from Austria is characterised by quality, customised solutions and experience – undoubtedly decisive criteria in the awarding of international projects. The task of commercial, international technology transfer is to increase the share of Austrian technology in exports in order to maintain or create jobs, and to sustainably secure Austria as a location for business, industry and tourism, as well as to highlight the excellence of Austrian cutting-edge technologies.
Technology transfer is highly related to and in line with the foreign trade concept of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT) and the foreign trade strategy as well as other strategic documents. The sectors relevant to the BMLRT are:
• Agricultural and food technologies (incl. irrigation systems, smart farming, viticulture and orcharding, brewery technologies, tractors, towed equipment etc.). • Mineral raw materials and raw material recovery (urban mining, phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge etc.). • Environmental and mining supply technologies, recycling technologies, circular economy • Tourism • Technologies for tourism (e.g. access systems, cable cars, ski lifts, skis and other sports equipment, snow-making systems etc.) • Security technologies • Water and sanitary supply • Forestry and timber industry • Digitisation, information and telecommunication technologies (IT) • Smart technologies for regional infrastructure development
Sector-specific technology-product maps – STPL
Technology-product maps have the primary purpose of presenting available technologies in a concise and summarised form. This serves, among other things, to quickly identify and evaluate these technologies in more detail. It is also possible to identify meaningful research activities and any necessary accompanying measures on the part of the public sector. Technology-product maps are drawn up for holistic technology sectors and are not primarily focused on individual companies. The essential components of the STPL are:
Contacts
Ralph Hammer Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism Section IV – Executive Department “Security Research and Technology Transfer”
+43 1 711 62 65 2109 Radetzkystraße 2, 1030 Vienna ralph.hammer@bmlrt.gv.at www.bmlrt.gv.at Marcus Ullmann Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism Section IV – Executive Department “Security Research and Technology Transfer”
+43 1 711 62 65 3302 Radetzkystraße 2, 1030 Vienna marcus.ullmann@bmlrt.gv.at www.bmlrt.gv.at
Austria‘s water is world famous. The best drinking water from the water mains is cause for envy in some other places.
• Brief description of the respective technology and the respective sector: This brief description is intended, among other things, to provide a methodical and practicable differentiation between sectors, and thus to avoid too much overlap with other sectors. Classification of sectors into technology grades (high tech, medium and low tech), among other things, if possible, on the basis of research and development expenditures in relation to added value within the sector. • Listing of key products within the technology: Here, existing applications and potential future options are described. Also, their (worldwide) distribution and future potential are estimated. • Existing competencies in Austria: Analysis with regard to market shares, R&D activities, international application of Austrian standards (e.g. EU-BREF) as well as export rate and international market shares. • Most important Austrian companies: Internationally active
Austrian companies in the technology sector are listed and described with short profiles. • Most important reference projects in Austria: For many technologies there are already reference projects in Austria, e.g. in the fields of tourism, water/wastewater, waste incineration, transport etc. These reference projects often involve public authorities and can be very helpful for international marketing. • Main competitors, countries: For the main competitors and countries in the individual technology sectors, their unique selling propositions, market shares, competitive advantages (e.g. national financing) are determined. Strategic suggestions for Austria can be drawn here. • Most important potential target markets: Analysis with regard to the institutional, structural, political, economic, societal and legal frameworks.
• Covid-19 impacts: To be mentioned here are impairments of the supply chains, travel restrictions, or, more generally, the widespread decline in economic activities or slumps in economic output. • Risk analysis: Risk analyses are performed using scoring models; the weighting of the individual sub-risks is based on both the authors’ own experience as well as on the opinions of national and international experts and agencies. • Other facts important for the respective sector • Cross-sector issues by relevance (e.g., financing, national (OeEB etc.), international (IFIs – International Financial Institutions, other bilateral financing), financing advice • Accompanying environment analysis
The STPL is filled from a wide variety of data sources, such as documents and elaborations of the Austrian Economic Chamber, reports of economic promotion facilities, publications of business associations of other countries, publications of international industry associations, publications of IFIs, publications of bilateral cooperation and the European Union, publications of other international institutions, various internet sources and – last but not least – expert interviews. Through this multitude of sources, each individual piece of information can be checked for its reliability by means of cross-check analysis.
The user group of the STPL is almost as diverse as its data sources. It includes the relevant departments of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLRT) with European and international relevance as well as attachés at the respective Austrian embassies, Austrian representations in the respective target country (embassy, Advantage Austria of the Austrian Economic Chamber WKO etc.), Austrian cluster organisations and companies, but also Austrian institutions, research and educational institutions with corresponding relevance and activities.
In particular, the Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft AWS (the development and financing bank of the Republic of Austria) should be mentioned here. By granting low-interest loans, guarantees, subsidies and equity capital, AWS supports companies in the implementation of their innovative projects from the initial idea to international market success. It also provides advice and support on the protection and exploitation of intellectual property. In addition, specific information, consulting, services and support are offered to prospective, existing and expanding companies. There is also the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) as the national funding agency for business-related research and development in Austria, universities, universities of applied sciences and relevant experts.
Since AWS was just mentioned, there are a number of funding instruments both in Austria and internationally. In Austria, supportive financing is mainly offered by the Austrian Kontrollbank (OeKB) and the Austrian Development Bank (OeEB). In addition, there is a number of support measures through the Austrian Economic Chamber (e.g. Go International) or special programmes (e.g. Kit4market or Tec4market), which are financed and handled by different agencies.
STPL in agriculture and food technology
Austria and Austrian companies are at the forefront of agricultural technology in many (niche) areas (e.g. irrigation systems, smart farming, viticulture and fruit growing, brewery technologies, tractors, towed equipment, etc.). In terms of global efforts to maintain food security while addressing climate change, there is potential for technology transfer in this area. Also, the current Covid-19 crisis may affect food security. Austria’s global orientation is mentioned several times in the bioeconomy strategy.
© BMLRT/Alexander Haiden
In Upper Austria, drones and 5G are being used for the first time in agriculture for monitoring large areas of arable land and the specific application of fertilisers.
STPL in water, wastewater management and technology
Austria is world-renowned for its water and water management, including wastewater. This topic is of paramount global relevance. Technology-driven solutions for the efficient and resource-conserving use of water are being promoted globally. This may result in opportunities for technology transfer.
STPL in mining, basic materials and heavy industry
The Austrian economy has so far been spared to a certain extent from de-industrialisation, as can already be seen in some countries (e.g. Great Britain). Specific technology transfer activities can help to secure the industrial base.
STPL in the wood and forestry industry
The Austrian wood and forestry industry has an exceedingly large potential for international activities. The creation of a “topic grid” in the field of forestry and water has already been suggested (incl. climate-efficient forest and forestry management, creation of CO2 balances).
STPL in the tourism industry
This can include technologies for tourism (e.g. access systems, cable cars, ski lifts, skis and other sports equipment, snowmaking systems etc.).
STPL in the circular economy
This includes technologies in urban mining, resource recovery (e.g. phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge etc.), and recycling and waste technologies.
In any case, there is no doubt that technologies of all kinds will continue to play a central role in the future. And Austria can act as a pioneer and technology leader in this respect.
HOFMANN over 75 years of tradition
Manufacturer of heat treatment plants for the automotive and aviation industry (aluminium and titanium) as well as the steel industry. Some of the world’s best-known companies are among our clients. Our export ratio is almost 85%. From the entire planning stage to programming and manufacturing – all from one source. You can count on HOFMANN quality. Nothing is left to chance.
Kraus & Naimer is a manufacturer of electrical switchgear and was founded in Vienna in 1907. The company´s logo is the Greek letter phi. Kraus & Naimer is a supplier of various switchgear for industrial customers in the fields of transport (railways, vehicles, ships, etc.), conveyor systems, lift systems, mechanical engineering, and power generation and power distribution systems. The family-run company is the world market leader in the field of cam switches and operates a global production and distribution network with some 900 people worldwide.
Kraus & Naimer Produktion GmbH
The company ACE Apparatebau construction & engineering GmbH is part of the versatile Christof Group and operating on a global scale. For decades, ACE has been developing special solutions for industrial equipment, which are recognised worldwide. The company manufactures complex pressure vessels, heat exchangers, columns, reactors, FCC components and other special equipment for international clients in the petrochemical and chemical industry, the plastics, paper and food industry. At its headquarters in Lieboch, ACE produces apparatuses with pressures of up to 750 bar, weights of up to 600 tonnes and diameters of up to 5.4 metres.
ACE Apparatebau construction & engineering GmbH
Hans Thalhammer Straße 18 | 8501 Lieboch 03136/636000 | ace.office@christof-group.com | www.christof-group.com
Clou Duo – The best of both worlds
Austroflamm’s Duo models can burn both logs and wood pellets. They combine the comfort and the technological innovation of pellet stoves with the cosiness of a crackling fireplace. The Clou Duo stands out from other stoves with its large, round glass door and the oval shape. It captivates with its pleasant pellet fire with an automatic thermostat, a timer, an optional air diffuser and an impressive log fire picture. The standard remote control offers maximum convenience and ease of use. You can find more warming ideas at www.austroflamm.com.
Carbides and tools from Boehlerit, headquartered in Kapfenberg, are the pacesetters for new standards in the machining of metal, wood, synthetic and composite materials. Reliable and efficient processes are ensured worldwide with cutting materials, semi-finished products, precision tools and tooling systems for milling, turning, drilling and forming. The comprehensive Boehlerit product range includes highly specialised tools for crankshaft machining, tube and pipe machining, bar peeling and heavy-duty machining operations in the steel industry. Further Boehlerit strengths include carbides for structural components and for wear-protection. In coating technology, Boehlerit achieved a world first and unique positioning globally with its Nano CVD bonding layer through to the hardest diamond coatings. Added to this, Boehlerit is the expert development partner for toolmakers with its unrivalled know-how and many years of mastery in metallurgy, coatings systems and the latest pressing technologies.
Boehlerit GmbH & Co KG
Werk VI-Straße 100 | 8605 Kapfenberg +43 (3862) 300-0 | info@boehlerit.com www.boehlerit.com
The reduction of CO2 emissions is the key challenge of the global automotive industry. Alternative drives or the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions in a combustion engine: our lightweight solutions help our customers to reduce weight and to integrate more functions such as cooling systems. We combine our development knowhow with 200 years of production excellence in the automotive industry. We set the highest standards for high-pressure die-casting components with multiple aluminium and magnesium alloys. Over 100 die-casting cells worldwide and closing forces from 200 to 4,400 tonnes. We offer the entire value chain from the raw casting to the ready-to-mount component.
GF Casting Solutions Herzogenburg HPDC GmbH GF Casting Solutions Altenmarkt GmbH & Co KG
Duvenbeck Group is an internationally operating full-service logistics provider. For more than eight decades, the family company has been inspiring confidence in customers with its unmistakable corporate culture, including major brands from the automotive and automotive supply industry, the consumer industry, the plastics industry and the agricultural vehicle industry. Our portfolio of logistical services is as comprehensive as your requirements. These services range from conceptual development to freight forwarding through to contract logistics.
Duvenbeck Logistik GmbH
Styriastraße 35 | A-8042 Graz +43 316 207 475 503 | Fax +43 316 207 475 507 | www.duvenbeck.de
SUNPOR Kunststoff GmbH
Tiroler Straße 14, A-3105 St. Pölten Tel. +43 (0)2742 291-0 office@sunpor.at, www.sunpor.at
sunpor – innovations for people and the environment
sunpor is one of Europe’s technology leaders when it comes to the production of granules for premium EPS. With cutting-edge production methods. With a wide range of types for all applications from insulation, protection and packaging to innovative special solutions. With extensive and individual support for processors. Working passionately to achieve one thing: the best ideas for EPS that deliver
both economic and environmental added value.
Innovative refrigeration technology from the world market leader
AHT is the leading provider of plug-in, environmentally friendly freezer systems and the perfect partner for grocery retailers and food manufacturers. Products that have shaped the industry come from tranquil Rottenmann since 1983. AHT refrigeration systems supply leading discount and supermarket chains as well as well-known manufacturers in the ice cream and beverage industry. AHT was the first manufacturer of propane-powered devices in series. Furthermore, AHT was the first manufacturer of a speed-regulated compressor in the plug-in area. In doing so, we have had a lasting influence on the way the industry looks at the energy consumption of refrigerated goods.
AHT Cooling Systems
Werksgasse 57 | A-8786 Rottenmann +43 3614 2451-0 | office@aht.at | www.aht.at
ILF CONSULTING ENGINEERS. THE EXPERIENCE OF ENGINEERING.
8,000+
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PROJECTS
ILF helps clients in the Energy & Climate Protection, Water & Environment, Transportation & Urban Spaces and Oil, Gas & Industrial sectors to reach their ambitious goals.
ILF CONSULTING ENGINEERS AUSTRIA GMBH
Feldkreuzstraße 3 ∙ 6063 Rum bei Innsbruck www.ilf.com
Carbon-neutral energy generation – with the powerful biomass plants from POLYTECHNIK
Recycling our environmental resources in an innovative and climate-friendly way has made Polytechnik, an Austrian family-owned company with more than 3,300 plants built worldwide, a global player and a perfect provider of tailor-made solutions for every need – for more than 55 years already. Polytechnik relies on ecologically developed products with state-of-the-art technology and thus makes a significant contribution to carbon-neutral energy generation. These customised systems are used in the wood industry, in the public sector for municipal heat supply, by large energy suppliers and by industrial energy consumers.
Polytechnik Luft- und Feuerungstechnik GmbH
Hainfelderstraße 69 | 2564 Weissenbach, Austria Tel. +43/2672/890-0 | office@polytechnik.at | www.polytechnik.com
Bühler Heidenreichstein signifies courage for unconventional solutions, future-oriented technological expertise and demand-oriented functionalities. The wide-ranging portfolio of services includes fully automated production lines, mainly for metal-plastic hybrid parts, standard plants, plant modules but also completely individually developed fully digitised and autonomous production lines. These plants are delivered to every continent of the world in accordance with every customer requirement and with the highest quality standards. Other core areas are high-quality parts production and component assembly for valve manufacturing, heavy valve construction, railroad technology, hydrants as well as for precision engineering and medical technology.
Metall- und Kunststoffwaren Erzeugungsgesellschaft m.b.H.
The IMA Schelling Group specialises in developing and producing modularised customer-specific manufacturing systems and processing solutions for the wood, metal and plastics industries. As a leading supplier of batch-size-1 systems for a digital, fully automated networked production, we sell and service our intelligent high-end solutions through our own sales and service companies all over the globe. Our product range includes systems for the entire process chain from storage, dividing, handling and transport, edge banding, CNC machining, drilling to sorting and stacking of panel-shaped workpieces made of wood, metal or plastic. Moreover, we offer you a comprehensive range of services and numerous digitisation products. # future # innovation # energy transition WE RELY ON CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES.
CleanTech – made in Austria
Schubert Elektroanlagen is an innovative company for electrotechnical equipment in plant construction. Among other things, we focus on solutions in the field of renewable energies and on the sustainability of our concepts, thus contributing to a successful energy transition.
With the quality and safety certifications ISO 9001 and ISO 45001, we guarantee our high quality and safety standards. Over 1,000 projects worldwide are impressive proof of our productive capacity.
IMA Schelling Group
Gebhard-Schwärzler-Straße 34 | 6858 Schwarzach | Vorarlberg | Austria Tel. +43 5572 396-0 | E-Mail: info@imaschelling.com | Web: www.imaschelling.com
GMUNDNER FERTIGTEILE Ges.m.b.H. & Co. KG was founded in 1972, is patent owner and producer of BODAN-level-crossing-systems. It is used as standard level-crossing-system by many state-owned and private railway companies worldwide.
BODAN is a modular level-crossing-system. It is suitable for all types of rails, sleeper and fastenings. BODAN works like a “bridge-system” and fulfils tracks and streets requirements. The application of the patented polymer-concrete GEFCON guarantees a maximum load ability by extreme heavy traffic as well as long life-cycle. An advantage is the easy exchange of individual panels as well as low maintenance costs. Bodan is exported in 20 countries worldwide
Schubert Elektroanlagen GesmbH
Industriestraße 3 | 3200 Ober-Grafendorf | Österreich Tel. +43 2747 2535-0 | E-Mail: office@schubert.tech | Web: www.schubert.tech
AUTOMOTIVE TESTING
With the KS R2R test technology (Road to Rig), it is possible to test drive components individually or in combination at any stage of development as if they were already installed in a real vehicle with real-time capable and true-to-life simulation models (Digital Twin).
