“From Science to Innovation” – Honouring Successful Inventors from the Graz Universities 2017

More than 1,000 inventions and 626 patent applications show the inventive spirit of the Styrian universities.

As important centres of inventive talent and innovation Styrian universities may look back at twelve years in which more than 1,000 inventions were made and more than 626 patent applications were filed. The Knowlede Transfer Centre South (Wissenstransferzentrum Süd) took this impressive balance as an occasion to organise an event on November 14, 2017 at the auditorium of the Medical University of Graz in order to honour inventors of the University of Graz, the Graz University of Technology and the Medical University of Graz. Approximately 120 „innovative“ scientists accepted the invitation.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hellmut Samonigg, Rector of the Medical University of Graz and host of the event „From Science to Innovation“ had the opportunity to greet not only numerous inventors and their families at the Medical University of Graz, but also the Vice Rectors Caroline Schober-Trummler (Medical University of Graz), Peter Scherrer (University of Graz) as well as Horst Bischof (Graz University of Technology) and further guests of honour, such as for example the Head of Division in the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, Günther Burkert and the Mayor of Graz, Siegfried Nagl.

Inventions and patents are essential parameters for the measurability in research. Regarding commercialisation a bridge to economy is crucial in order for inventions to be transferred into applicable technologies. Experts concentrating intensively on inventions, patenting strategies and commercialisation are working at the University of  Graz, the Graz Unversity of Technology as well as the Medical University of Graz.

As part of the ceremony, the Nikola Tesla Medal was awarded to the most successful inventor of the TU Graz of the past five years, Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Dieter Schmalstieg, Institute of Computer Graphics and Vision.

Sincere thanks were also given to the organising committee, which was composed of members of the three participating universities and WTZ Süd.

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