Ten years of the TU Austria Innovation Marathon: Pioneering ideas presented at Museumsquartier Wien
The TU Austria Innovation Marathon has now become an annual event, organised by Austria's three technical universities: TU Wien, TU Graz and the Montanuniversität Leoben. The aim is to develop innovative solutions at the interface between science, business and society, and to promote the innovative potential of young talent. The six partner companies of this year's Innovation Marathon – OMV, Magna, Hilti, Ebner Group, Miba and Mondi – provided the specific problems, which are based on current challenges facing the economy. The students worked in interdisciplinary teams to develop creative concepts based on these tasks, from which both the partner companies of the Innovation Marathon and Austria as a business location can benefit in the future. The Innovation Marathon offers participants the valuable opportunity to gain practical experience, make valuable contacts and demonstrate their skills in a real business context.
Innovative strength as a key factor for Austria as a business location
The TU Austria Innovation Marathon brings together students from Austrian universities and leading companies, demonstrating the great potential that lies in cooperation between universities and business. Peter Moser, rector of the University of Leoben and acting president of TU Austria, was enthusiastic about the success of the event. ‘The TU Austria Innovation Marathon impressively demonstrates what is possible when young talent and companies work hand in hand. The ideas and concepts that are developed here in just 24 hours are not only innovative, but also of great importance for the future competitiveness of our business location. This format highlights how important close networking between science and business is for Austria's success and progress,’ said Moser.
Georg Knill, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), pointed to the major transformation processes and the enormous speed with which they are changing our world: ’Technology is our compass and at the same time an ace up our sleeve that we must play quickly and with conviction! Only with technological expertise can we determine our own future and guarantee prosperity, quality of life and security for society. The key to this is talent in the STEM subjects. Events such as the TU Austria Innovation Marathon promote this talent and are indispensable for securing Austria's position as a centre of technology and innovation,’ says Knill.
A decade of the Innovation Marathon: tradition and change
Mario Fallast, project manager of the TU Austria Innovation Marathon, sums up the past ten years: ‘We have developed the format a lot with our partner ICG (Integrated Consulting Group). What has not changed over the years is the great commitment of the students and company representatives.’
‘Every year, the TU Austria Innovation Marathon impressively demonstrates the potential of cooperation between science and industry. Young talents from the technical universities develop creative solutions for the challenges of the future in the shortest possible time. This year, the participants have once again inspired me with their entrepreneurial spirit and passion for technological progress and innovative solutions. It is precisely these kinds of initiatives that we use to promote the innovative spirit of our students and to take Austria a step forward as a centre of science and technology,’ said Martin Polaschek, Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research.
Presentation of the results: fresh ideas and concepts for Austria's research and development landscape
The collected ideas and concepts were presented by the participants of the TU Austria Innovation Marathon on the main stage of the FFG Forum. The fresh ideas were met with enthusiasm by the audience from Austria's research and development community. Dr Stefan Harasek, President of the Austrian Patent Office (ÖPA), praised the teams' innovative spirit: ’The innovative spirit that the teams have shown with their ideas is extremely impressive. And the results show what we also observe time and again at the Austrian Patent Office: different areas of expertise in a team foster creativity – the more diverse the teams, the more unexpected and interesting the result. Every year, our engineers enjoy supporting the young inventors and advising them,’ says Harasek. The FFG managing directors Henrietta Egerth and Karin Tausz also agree: ’The results of the TU Austria Innovation Marathon impressively demonstrate how young talents can develop innovative solutions for the challenges of the future in the shortest possible time. The FFG is proud to support these creative and interdisciplinary approaches and thus strengthen Austria's innovative potential. Initiatives like this are crucial to positioning Austria as a leading centre of innovation in the international arena,’ say Egerth and Tausz.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/tu.austria
https://www.tuaustria.ac.at/veranstaltungen/innovations-marathon
For further information:
DI Mario Fallast
Project Manager TU Austria Innovation Marathon
TU Graz | Research & Technology House
M: +43-664-3332355
E-Mail: mario.fallast(at)tugraz.at