Houska Prize Review 2026

Award ceremony 2026

Award ceremony and winners

Non-University Reseach

Houskapreis 2026 - 1. Platz in der Kategorie Außeruniversitäre Forschung für AIT/Center for Energy, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Friedrich Kupzog (AIT), Mark Stefan (AIT), Bharath Varsh Rao (AIT), Gregor Taljan (Energienetze Steiermark), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

1 Prize

Project:	1st Prize: Voltera – AI-Powered Grid Management for Secure, Flexible Energy
Institution:	AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Energy
Project lead:	Dr. Bharath Varsh Rao, B.Eng. M.Sc.

Houskapreis 2026 - 2. Platz in der Kategorie Außeruniversitäre Forschung für JOANNEUM RESEARCH, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), JOANNEUM RESEARCH: Heinz Mayer (JR-GF), Ulrich Trog (MATERIALS-Direktor), Andreas Tschepp, Barbara Stadlober und Martin Zirkl (Projektteam), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

2 Prize

Project:	2nd Prize: PyzoFlex – Sensor Technology of the Future
Institution:	Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Institute for Sensors, Photonics and Manufacturing Technologies
Project lead:	DI Andreas Tschepp; Mag. Dr. Martin Zirkl; Mag. Gregor Scheipl; Mag.a Dr.in Barbara Stadlober

Houskapreis 2026 - 3. Platz in der Kategorie Außeruniversitäre Forschung für AIT/Center for Technology Experience, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Lukas Kröninger (AIT), Christine Wahlmüller-Schiller (AIT), Jakob Carl Uhl (AIT), Manfred Tscheligi (AIT), Markus Murtinger (AIT), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

3 Prize

Project:	3rd Prize: Green Manikin– AI-Supported Mixed Reality First Aid Training
Institution:	AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Technology Experience
Project lead:	Jakob Carl Uhl, MSc; Co-Lead: DI Helmut Schrom-Feiertag; Mag. Markus Murtinger

Research & Development in SMEs category

Houskapreis 2026 - 1. Platz in der Kategorie Forschung & Entwicklung in KMU für sendance, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Raphael Siegl (sendance), Vera Pamminger (sendance), Thomas Stockinger (sendance), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

1 Prize

Project:	1st Prize: sendance Platform
Company:	sendance GmbH
Project lead:	Dr. Robert Koeppe; Dr.in Daniela Wirthl; DI Thomas Stockinger, BSc; DIin Vera Pamminger, BSc

Houskapreis 2026 - 2. Platz in der Kategorie Forschung & Entwicklung in KMU für AT Space GmbH, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Erich Neubauer (AT Space), Christine Neubauer (AT Space), Doris Kitzmantel (AT Space), Michael Kitzmantel (AT Space), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

2 Prize

Project:	2nd Prize: AstroLink
Company:	AT Space GmbH
Project lead:	DI Michael Kitzmantel; DI Dr. Erich Neubauer; Ing. Emanuel Feuerstein

Houskapreis 2026: 3. Platz in der Kategorie F&E in KMU für Ocean Maps GmbH, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Klemens Svetitsch (Ocean Maps), Michael Altrichter (Aufsichtsrat, Investor), Thomas Nemetz (Ocean Maps), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

3 Prize

Project:	3rd Prize: Ocean Maps – Digital Twin
Company:	Ocean Maps GmbH
Project lead:	DI Dr. Thomas Nemetz; Klemens Svetitsch, BSc, MA

University Research

Houskapreis 2026 - 1. Platz in der Kategorie Hochschulforschung für TU Wien: v.l.n.r. Erich Hampel (B&C), Ulrich Miller und Oliver Hudak (Fa. Plansee), Helmut Riedl-Tragenreif (TU Wien), Klaus Böbel (Fa. Oerlikon), Peter Ertl (TU Wien), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

1 Prize

Project:	1st Prize: The Hotter, the Better – Micrometer-Thin Layers for Maximum Performance
Institution:	TU Wien, Institute of Materials Science and Technology
Project lead:	Assoc. Prof. DI Dr. Helmut Riedl-Tragenreif; Dr.-Ing. Peter Polcik (Plansee); DI Klaus Böbel (Oerlikon)

Houskapreis 2026 - 2. Platz in der Kategorie Hochschulforschung für IMBA/ÖAW, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Tobias Ilmer (IMBA), Lavinia Ceci Ginistrelli (IMBA), Sasha Mendjan (IMBA), Stefan Jahnel (IMBA), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

2 Prize

Project:	2nd Prize: Human-Based Heart Models Reshaping Pharmaceutical Research
Institution:	Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA)
Project lead:	Assist. Prof. Sasha Mendjan, PhD

Houskapreis 2026 - 3. Platz in der Kategorie Hochschulforschung & Mariella-Schurz-Preis für MedUni Wien/SVAN, v.l.n.r.: Erich Hampel (B&C), Michaela Fritz (MedUni Wien), Gunpreet Coudert Oberoi (MedUni Wien, SVAN), Ewald Unger (MedUni Wien, SVAN), Michael Bacher (SVAN), Birgit Noggler (B&C), Foto: Alexander Müller

3 Prize

Project:	3rd Prize & Mariella Schurz Prize: Smart Versatile Auto-Stop Navigation Drilling Platform (SVAN)
Institution:	Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
Project lead:	DDr.in Gunpreet Coudert Oberoi, PhD, MS, BDS; Hofrat Ing. Ewald Unger

The Minds Behind the Houska Prize

Discover the projects and researchers honored with the Houska Prize for their outstanding innovations.

The overview presents all award-winning works and showcases the diversity of ideas that shape Austria’s top-level research and enhance its international visibility.

Go to the directory

Winners

All Houska-Prize winners of the last years

Houska Prize Winners Club

Networking platform for prize winners

Deepening ties and expanding the level of cooperation between universities and private research facilities is one of the B&C Private Foundation’s core goals. And to help achieve this over the long term, B&C set up the Houska Prize Winners Club in 2018. The aim is to promote exchange between business, science and research that goes beyond the annual Houska Prize award ceremony. All of the project owners and academics to have won the Houska Prize to date are members of an exclusive group of leading Austrian researchers.

Club