Call for entries
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. In addition to the innovation performance, the economic effect is an essential criterion in the awarding of the Houska Prize. With a total endowment of EUR 760,000 shared between the winners, the Houska Prize is Austria’s largest privatly-awarded prize for application-driven research.
Austria's "Research Oscar" enters its 20th round: The Houska Prize 2025 will once again be awarded in the three categories "University Research", "Non-University Research" and "Research & Development in SMEs". In addition to innovation, the economic impact is a key criterion for the Houska Prize. Additionally, the Mariella Schurz Prize, with a value of €10,000, will also be awarded as part of the Houska Prize. Submissions for the 2025 Houska Prize can be made online between 1 September 2024 and 31 October 2024. Please note that the submission form is only available in German.
This category recognises the economic significance of applied research for Austria as a business location. It is open to state and private universities including universities of applied sciences as well as the Christian Doppler Laboratories, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria).
For more information please refer to the following documents:
The category is open to non-university research institutions which are able to demonstrate a combination of exceptional research performance and research findings with economic significance for Austria as a business location. Institutions according to the Eligible Non-University Research Institution list below are invited to make submissions in this category.
For more information please refer to the following documents:
Exceptionally innovative research achievements with a lasting economic impact by small and medium-sized enterprises in Austria are highlighted in the Research & Development in SMEs category by the Houska Prize. The prize money is intended to give the recipients the greatest possible freedom and flexibility when it comes to their future research activities.
For more information please refer to the following documents:
The Mariella Schurz Prize will be awarded for the second time as part of the Houska Prize, in honor of the late Secretary General of the B&C Private Foundation. All nominated projects will be evaluated by a high school class during lessons, and the class will act as the jury. In addition to a specially designed Houska Prize statue, the award also includes a prize valued at €10,000.
The three categories of Higher Education Research, Non-University Research and Research & Development in SMEs are evaluated independently of one another. Submissions are evaluated by a carefully selected advisory panel and subsequently by a judging panel of internationally respected experts. The advisory panel engages external experts to assist with the evaluation of submissions and ensure a robust process. It proposes an initial ranking, which is provided to the judging panel, who make the final decisions. The judging panel selects five finalists in each category. The 2025 Houska Prize winners will be announced at the awards ceremony held on 09 April 2025.
