Houska Prize

Austria’s largest private prize for application-driven research

Houskapreis

2023 Houska Prize

Award Ceremony on 27 April 2023
2023 Houska Prize Review

Houska Prize 2023 - Winners

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize was set up to promote business-related research and innovation. By awarding the prize, B&C’s goal is to help strengthen Austria as a business location while expressing its appreciation for the outstanding research work carried out in the country. Besides innovation performance, economic impact is also a key criterion that determines the winners of the Houska Prize. The Houska Prize is the largest privately-awarded prize for applied research in Austria: to date, the main prize has been awarded to 23 top researchers, and a total of EUR 5.6m has been distributed in the form of prize money or vouchers.

TU Wien, Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft and Cube Dx win the 2023 Houska Prize

In the category "Higher Education Research", Michael Harasek from the Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology won the main prize for his research project "Seperation and Compression of Hydrogen for Fuel Cells". Elisabeth Häusler from the Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft convinced the jury in the category "Non-University research" with the Connected Boot for sensor-based feedback and mobile analysis for optimised alpine skiing. In the "Research & Development in SMEs" category, Bernhard Ronacher from the Upper Austrian company Cube Dx impressed the expert jury and the members of the advisory committee, taking away the golden Houska Prize trophy for "compact sequencing, a method for an early sepsis diagnosis". Congratulations!

2023 Houska Prize Review

Winners of the 2023 Houska Prize

13 projects were nominated for the 2023 Houska Prize in a two-stage process by internationally recognised experts.

Category Higher Education Research

Project lead

TU Wien - Ao. Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Michael Harasek

Project

1st Prize: Separation and Compression of Hydrogen for Fuel Cells

Project lead

University of Vienna - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Mag. Robert Konrat

Project

2nd Prize: Computer-Assisted Structural Biology

Project lead

University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna - Priv.-Doz.in DI.in Dr.in Sabine Brandt

Project

3rd Prize: Immunotherapy of Papillomavirus-Induced Skin Cancer in Horses

Project lead

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences - Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Peter van Oostrum, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Erik Reimhult

Project

Nominated: Inline Holographic Miscroscopy for Food, Pharma and Environment

Project lead

University of Vienna - Dr. Anton A. Polyansky, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bojan Zagrovic

Project

Nominated: Targeted Solubilization of Therapeutic Antibodies by RNA

Category Non-University Research

Project lead

Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH - DI.in (FH) Elisabeth Häusler

Project

1st Prize: Sensor-based feedback and mobile analysis for optimised alpine skiing

Project lead

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH - Priv.-Doz.in DI.in Dr.in Angela Sessitsch

Project

2nd Prize: EndoBoost – Endophyte-based Technology improving Crop Production

Project lead

Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH I WOOD Kplus - Dr. Hendrikus van Herwijnen

Project

3rd Prize: Sustainable Adhesive for wood composite board and furniture

Project lead

RCPE Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH - Dr.in Simone Eder, MA,  Dr. Martin Spörk, MA

Project

Nominated: Personalized Pharmaceutical Inserts via 3D-Printing

Project lead

Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (OIAT) - Mag.a Louise Beltzung

Project

Nominated: Real-Time Detection of Fake-Shops through Machine Learning

Category Research & Development in SMEs

Project lead

Cube Dx GmbH - Mag. Dr. Bernhard Ronacher

Project

1st Prize: Compact Sequencing – An Early Sepsis Diagnosis

Project lead

4a manufacturing GmbH, Styria - DI Dr. Patrick Hergan, DI.in Dr.in Svea Mayer, DI Michael Pichler

Project

2nd Prize: CIMERA Radome – 4a better connection

Project lead

RetInSight GmbH - Amir Sadeghipour, PhD

Project

3rd Prize: Provision of AI software for OCT images to monitor and screen chronic Age-related Macular Degeneration and other retinal diseases
HP23, Foto: Alexander Müller
HP23, Foto: Alexander Müller

Houska Prize 2023 – Winners

Houska Prize for TU Wien, Salzburg Research and Cube Dx

The B&C Private Foundation awarded Austria's top research achievements in three categories for the 18th time at a festive Houska Prize ceremony on April 27, 2023: "Higher Education Research", "Research & Development in SMEs" and, for the first time "Non-University Research". In the Higher Education Research category, Michael Harasek from the Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology won the main prize for his research project "Seperation and Compression of Hydrogen for Fuel Cells". Elisabeth Häusler from the Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft convinces the jury in the category "Non-University research" with the Connected Boot for sensor-based feedback and mobile analysis for optimised alpine skiing. In the Research & Development in SMEs category, Bernhard Ronacher from the Upper Austrian company Cube Dx impressed the expert jury and the members of the advisory committee, taking away the golden Houska Prize trophy for "compact sequencing, a method for an early sepsis diagnosis". Congratulations!

The B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria. With a total endowment of EUR 750,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest private award for application-driven research. The prize also honours the B&C Private Foundation’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in Austria and improving the country’s long-term standing as a business location. It is awarded in recognition of the best higher education research and non-university projects and innovative SME research activities in three separate categories. Presented annually, the Houska Prize is named after former foundation board member Wolfgang Houska. When it came to the design of the Houska Prize trophy, the creator turned to movie actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr for inspiration.

Press & News

Obituary: B&C family mourns the loss of Mariella Schurz

Mariella Schurz
Mariella Schurz (1974-2022)

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Mariella Schurz, our long-time colleague, General Secretary of the B&C Private Foundation and Managing Director in the B&C Group. Mariella’s passing on 4 November 2022 spells the loss of an exceptional individual. She was highly committed to the B&C Group, to her employees and to building a better society through her courageous and rousing dedication, and a great deal of warmth and understanding.

 

To the obituary

The Houska Prize Team

Nora Dvorak

Nora Dvorak

Doris Mayr

Doris Mayr

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The Houska Prize Nominees - nicht sichtbar

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize was set up to promote business-related research and innovation. By awarding the prize, B&C’s goal is to help strengthen Austria as a business location while expressing its appreciation for the outstanding research work carried out in the country. Besides innovation performance, economic impact is also a key criterion that determines the winners of the Houska Prize. The Houska Prize is the largest privately-awarded prize for applied research in Austria: to date, the main prize has been awarded to 23 top researchers, and a total of EUR 5.6m has been distributed in the form of prize money or vouchers.

13 projects nominated for the 2023 Houska Prize

The projects entered in three categories were evaluated in a two-phase process by the members of a high-level advisory commitee and an internationally respected expert jury. Out of 67 submissions the best 13 projects - five projects each in the categories "Higher Education Research" and "Non-University Research" and three projects in the category "Research & Development in SMEs" - were selected for the final. The expert jury finally decided who has a chance to win the 2023 Houska Prize with a total endowment of 750,000 euros. The nominated projects include submissions from Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria and Vienna. The award ceremony will take place on 27 April 2023.

Preisverleihung Houskapreis 2021

Livestream of the 2023 Houska Prize Award Ceremony - nicht sichtbar

With the 2023 Houska Prize, the B&C Private Foundation honours Austria's best projects in the field of applied research at a festive award ceremony. In addition to the categories "Higher Education Research" and "Research & Development in SMEs", the golden Houska Prize statue will be awarded for the first time in the category "Non-University Research".

The event will be streamed online to enable anyone to watch the ceremony. Please note that the event will be held in German.

Thursday, 27 April 2023, Start: 7:00 p.m. CET

Livestream

2023 Houska Prize - Submission nicht sichtbar

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize was set up to promote business-related research and innovation. By awarding the prize, B&C’s goal is to help strengthen Austria as a business location while expressing its appreciation for the outstanding research work carried out in the country. Besides innovation performance, economic impact is also a key criterion that determines the winners of the Houska Prize. The Houska Prize is the largest privately-awarded prize for applied research in Austria: to date, the main prize has been awarded to 23 top researchers, and a total of EUR 5.6m has been distributed in the form of prize money or vouchers.

Submissions for the 2023 Houska Prize:
1 September to 30 November 2022

The Austrian research Oscars will be marking its 18th iteration with a new development: the 2023 Houska Prize will be extended to include a third category – Non-University Research – which will complement the existing categories Higher Education Research and Research & Development in SMEs. As a result, the B&C Private Foundation will be increasing the overall prize fund to EUR 750,000. The top prize for each category is EUR 150,000. Submissions for the 2023 Houska Prize can be made online between 1 September and 30 November 2022.

call for entries

The Houska Prize

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize was set up to promote business-related research and innovation. By awarding the prize, B&C’s goal is to help strengthen Austria as a business location while expressing its appreciation for the outstanding research work carried out in the country. Besides innovation performance, economic impact is also a key criterion that determines the winners of the Houska Prize. The Houska Prize is the largest privately-awarded prize for applied research in Austria: to date, the main prize has been awarded to 23 top researchers, and a total of EUR 5.6m has been distributed in the form of prize money or vouchers.

2023 Houska Prize: Submission is now closed

A total of 67 projects were submitted, 24 of which were in the category "Higher Education Research", 20 in the category "Research & Development in SMEs" and 23 in the area of non-university research, the newly introduced third category. The deadline for submissions for the 2023 Houska Prize was 30 November 2022. The submitted research projects will now be judged in a two-stage process by high-profile advisory boards and an internationally recognized expert jury. The five nominees per category will be announced by the end of February 2023. The award ceremony will take place in Vienna on 27 April 2023.

Thank you for the numerous submissions!

call for entries

Award ceremony on 27 April 2023 => Registtration offline

With the 2023 Houska Prize, the B&C Private Foundation honours Austria's best projects in the field of applied research at a festive award ceremony. In addition to the categories "Higher Education Research" and "Research & Development in SMEs", the golden Houska Prize statue will be awarded for the first time in the category "Non-University Research".

Thursday, 27 April 2023, 6:00 p.m. CET
Gartenbaukino, Parkring 12, A-1010 Vienna

Please note, that only persons who have been sent an invitation with a registration code can register to attend the award ceremony. The event will be streamed online on our website to enable anyone to watch the ceremony. The event will be held in German.

register here

The event is organized according to the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Events - here to the certificate. Please support our green event and use public transport when you arrive: subways U2 (MuseumsQuartier or Volkstheater) and U3 (Volkstheater); bus 48A (Volkstheater); city bus 2B (MuseumsQuartier); tram 49 (Volkstheater). The Gartenbaukino is barrier-free accessible. Information on the accessibility of the event location can be found under www.gartenbaukino.at. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail at houskapreis@privatstiftung.at.

2022 Houska Prize All Stars - Winners nicht sichtbar

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria. The B&C Private Foundation announced a special prize for 2022: the 2022 Houska Prize All Stars. This award recognized the achievements of projects nominated for the Houska Prize between 2005 and 2020 which had gone on to achieve the greatest commercial success.

Logo Houskapreis 2022 All Stars

Stefan Pogatscher and Clemens Zierhofer win 2022 Houska Prize All Stars

Out of 28 submissions the best five projects were selected for the final. The winners were announced at the Houska Prize award ceremony on 28 April 2022. For the first time there are two first place winners: Stefan Pogatscher from the Montanuniversität Leoben and Clemens Zierhofer from the University of Innsbruck.

Winners of the 2022 Houska Prize All Stars - offline

The winners were awarded on 28 April 2022.

Project lead

University of Innsbruck, Department of Mechatronics - Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Clemens Zierhofer

Project

1st Prize: Design and Realisation of a Cochlear Implant System for Fine Structure Simulation

Project lead

Montanuniversität Leoben, Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy - Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Stefan Pogatscher

Project

1st Prize: Manipulation of Aluminium Tempering Kinetics for Traffic and Transport

Project lead

University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics - Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Armin Hansel

Project

3rd Prize: PTR-TOF trace gas analysis

Project lead

Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Materials Science and Technology - Univ.-Prof. Jürgen Stampfl, Univ.-Prof. Robert Liska, Univ.-Prof. Aleksandr Ovsianikov

Project

Nominated: 3D-Printing – Let there be Light!

Project lead

Marinomed Biotech AG - Dr.in Eva Prieschl-Grassauer

Project

Nominated: Carragelose – Prophylaxis and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections

Nominees 2022 - nicht sichtbar

Nominees

List in alphabetical order by university/company

Project lead

Marinomed Biotech AG - Dr.in Eva Prieschl-Grassauer

Project

Nominated: Carragelose – Prophylaxis and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections

Project lead

Montanuniversität Leoben, Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy - Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Stefan Pogatscher

Project

1st Prize: Manipulation of Aluminium Tempering Kinetics for Traffic and Transport

Project lead

University of Innsbruck, Department of Mechatronics - Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Clemens Zierhofer

Project

1st Prize: Design and Realisation of a Cochlear Implant System for Fine Structure Simulation

Project lead

University of Innsbruck, Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics - Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Armin Hansel

Project

3rd Prize: PTR-TOF trace gas analysis

Project lead

Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Materials Science and Technology - Univ.-Prof. Jürgen Stampfl, Univ.-Prof. Robert Liska, Univ.-Prof. Aleksandr Ovsianikov

Project

Nominated: 3D-Printing – Let there be Light!

The Houska Prize Voting 2021 - nicht sichtbar

The B&C Private Foundation will present the Houska Prize in the Higher Education Research and Research & Development in SMEs categories for the 16th time. With a total of EUR 500,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest private prize for application-led research. The prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria.

Houskapreis_Logo_2021

Online Voting for the Audience Prize

The projects entered in the two categories "Higher Education Research" and "Research & Development in SMEs" were evaluated in a two-phase process by the members of a high-level advisory commitee and an internationally respected expert jury. Out of 61 submissions the best 10 projects - 5 for each category - were selected for the final. The public is invited to vote for their favorite project, the online voting for the audience prize is now open until September 19, 2021. The award ceremony will take place on September 23, 2021.

VOTE NOW

Registration - Offline

Anmeldung - nicht sichtbar Registration for the Award Ceremony of 2021 Houska Prize

The B&C Private Foundation will award Austria´s top researchers with the prestigious Houska Prize at a festive award ceremony.

Thursday, September 23, 2021, 6:00 p.m. CET
Museumsquartier, Museumsplatz 1, A-1070 Vienna

Please note, that only persons who have been sent an invitation with a registration code can register to attend the award ceremony. The event will be streamed online on our website, YouTube or Facebook to enable anyone to see the ceremony. The event will be held in German.

register here

2022 Houska Prize All Stars - Nominierte nicht sichtbar

Established in 2005, the B&C Private Foundation’s Houska Prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria. The B&C Private Foundation has announced a special prize for 2022: the 2022 Houska Prize All Stars. This award will recognize the achievements of projects nominated for the Houska Prize between 2005 and 2020 which have gone on to achieve the greatest commercial success.

Logo Houskapreis 2022 All Stars

Five projects nominated for the 2022 Houska Prize All Stars

The deadline for submissions for the 2022 Houska Prize All Stars was 30 November 2021. The projects entered have been evaluated in a two-phase process by the members of the a high-level Advisory Commitee and an internationally respected expert jury. Out of 28 submissions the best five projects were selected for the final. The winners will be announced at the Houska Prize award ceremony taking place on 28 April 2022.

Winners of the 2021 Houska Prize - nicht sichtbar

The winners were awarded on September 23, 2021.

Higher Education
category

Project lead

Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics - Assoc.Prof. Mag. Dr. Golta Khatibi

Project

1st Prize: High Reliability Power Electronics

Project lead

Graz University of Technology, Institute of Process and Particle Engineering - DI Dr. Christian Witz, BSc

Project

2nd Prize: Simulation of (Bio-)Reactors

Project lead

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Biotechnology - DI Miriam Klausberger, Ph.D., DI Mark Dürkop, Ph.D.

Project

3rd Prize Public Choice: SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Tests: An Austrian Success Story

Project lead

University of Innsbruck, European Translational Oncology Prevention & Screening Institute (EUTOPS) - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Widschwendter, FRCOG

Project

Recognition Prize: Personalised Screening and Prevention of Women´s Cancer

Project lead

University of Innsbruck, Institute of Biochemistry - Priv.Doz. Dr. Eduard Stefan, Ph.D.

Project

Recognition Prize: Shining Light on Personalized Kinase Drugs

Research & Development in SMEs
category

Project lead

Symptoma GmbH - Dr. Jama Nateqi

Project

1st Prize: Symptoma

Project lead

Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH - Dr. Christian Schwarzl

Project

2nd Prize: Mobile Testing Platform SPIDER

Project lead

EET-Efficient Energy Technology GmbH - DI Dr. Christoph Grimmer

Project

3rd Prize Public Choice: SolMate – Photovoltaics for Every Home

Project lead

AVILOO GmbH - DI Wolfgang Berger

Project

Recognition Prize: AVILOO Battery Diagnostics

Project lead

Cargometer GmbH - Dr. Michael Baumgartner, DI. Dr. Bernhard Obermaier

Project

Recognition Prize: Freight Dimensioning 4.0

The Houska Prize 2021 Submission - nicht sichtbar

The B&C Private Foundation will present the Houska Prize in the Higher Education Research and Research & Development in SMEs categories for the 16th time. With a total of EUR 500,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest private prize for application-led research. The prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria.

Houskapreis_Logo_2021

Submission open from 1 January to 31 March 2021

The Submission will be open from 1 January to midnight on 31 March 2021. Please note that the submission form is in German only.

Call for entries deck

Submit now

The Houska Prize - 2021 nicht sichtbar

The B&C Private Foundation presents the Houska Prize in the Higher Education Research and Research & Development in SMEs categories. With a total of EUR 500,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest private prize for application-led research. The prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria.

Houskapreis_Logo_2021

TU Wien and Symptoma Win the 2021 Houska Prize

In the Higher Education Research category, Prof. Golta Khatibi from the Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics at the Vienna University of Technology won the main prize for her research project "High Reliability Power Electronics". In the Research & Development in SMEs category, Jama Nateqi from the Upper Austrian company Symptoma GmbH impressed the expert jury and the members of the advisory committee, taking away the golden Houska Prize trophy for the digital health assistant Symptoma. Congratulations!

Award Ceremony 2021

The Houska Prize 2021 Nominierte - nicht sichtbar

The B&C Private Foundation will present the Houska Prize in the Higher Education Research and Research & Development in SMEs categories for the 16th time. With a total of EUR 500,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest private prize for application-led research. The prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria.

Houskapreis_Logo_2021

Ten projects nominated for the 2021 Houska Prize

The projects entered in the two categories "Higher Education Research" and "Research & Development in SMEs" were evaluated in a two-phase process by the members of a high-level advisory commitee and an internationally respected expert jury. Out of 61 submissions the best 10 projects - 5 for each category - were selected for the final. The public can also vote for their favorite project, the online voting for the audience prize will start on August 30, 2021. The award ceremony will take place on September 23, 2021.

Winners of the 2020 Houska Prize - nicht sichtbar

The Houska Prize was awarded on 24 September 2020.

Higher Education
category

Project lead

TU Graz - Graz University of Technology, Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis - Assoc. Prof. DI Dr. Harald Plank

Project

1st Prize: 3D Nanoprinting

Project lead

ÖAW - Erich Schmid Institute of Material Science (ESI) - Priv.-Doz. Dr. Megan J. Cordill

Project

2nd Prize: Unbreakable, flexible electronics

Project lead

TU Wien - Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry - Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Peter Ertl

Project

3d Audience Prize: Parkinson-on-a-Chip

Project lead

Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Center for Secure Energy Informatics - FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. DI Mag. Dr. Dominik Engel

Project

Recognition Prize: Secure data protection-oriented IT architectures for future energy systems

Project lead

ÖAW - Gregor Mendel Institute for Molecular Plant Biology (GMI) - Dr. Michael Nodine

Project

Recognition Prize: Spike-ins for quantification of small RNA molecules

Research & Development in SMEs category

Project lead

MacroArray Diagnostics GmbH - Dr. Christian Harwanegg, MBA

Project

1st Prize: Allergy Explorer – the key for allergy diagnosis

Project lead

bitmovin GmbH - DI Stefan Lederer, DI Christopher Müller, Assoc.Prof. Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Christian Timmerer

Project

2nd Prize: PROMETHEUS ­­– the future of video streaming

Project lead

UrbanGold GmbH - DI Dr. Stefan Konetschnik

Project

3rd Audience Prize: Boosting e-waste-recycling

Project lead

SCARLETRED Holding GmbH - Dr. Harald Schnidar, MBA

Project

Recognition Award: SCARLETRED – digital dermatology 2.0

Project lead

PJ Monitoring GmbH - Christoph Lorenzutti

Project

Recognition Prize: WaggonTracker – digitalisation of rail freight transport

The Houska Prize 2021 Submission closed - nicht sichtbar

Submission closed - NICHT SICHTBAR The B&C Private Foundation will present the Houska Prize in the Higher Education Research and Research & Development in SMEs categories for the 16th time. With a total of EUR 500,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest private prize for application-led research. The prize is designed to improve the financial environment for innovation and research in Austria. It is also a mark of the foundation’s admiration for the outstanding research conducted in Austria.

Houskapreis_Logo_2021

2021 Houska Prize - Submission is now closed

The deadline for submissions for the 2021 Houska Prize was March 31, 2021. The projects entered in the two categories "Higher Education Research" and "Research & Development in SMEs" will now be evaluated in a two-phase process by the members of the a high-level advisory commitee and an internationally respected expert jury. The five nominated projects for each category will be announced in June 2021. The winners of each category will then be announced at the Houska Prize award ceremony taking place on  September 23, 2021 in Vienna.

We would like to thank all who have entered this year!

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