aws Seedfinancing

Projects supported in 2017 High Technology Brought to Life

Austria was the first country in the EU to establish a ministry for digital affairs. This is of utmost importance because digitalisation is about to pervade all areas of life and transform the world. The manifold technological and creative opportunities brought about by this change have to

be exploited much faster and better to get innovations to the © BMDW/Christian Lendl market. Hence, we support the establishment of companies built on unconventional, technologically ambitious research Margarete Schramböck and development projects by offering startup initiatives such Federal Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs as the PreSeed and Seedfinancing programmes.

We count on people with courage, innovative capacity and entrepreneurial spirit who turn their ideas into businesses. They take Austria to the next level and contribute to making it an innovation leader.

4 5 Austria will spend 3.19% of its GDP on research and development this year, an effort that will pay off with the country on the road to becoming an innovation leader. During the past years, the seed has been sown in the form of increasing amounts invested in the innovation sector. Innovation is defined as an idea turned into a success story. Now is the time for the aws high-tech programme to translate the findings of research departments into products and Norbert Hofer services. Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology Digitalisation offers every opportunity to do so. In many sectors of the economy, newcomers and outsiders now have the unique chance to break up old structures. It is the job of politicians to give inventive spirits and businesses the space they need to realise their visions.

6 7 Business at Location Austria is powered and driven by the innovative strength of Austrian entrepreneurs and scientists. To be able to fully unfold their innovative capacities, creative people and firms need frameworks that enable them to turn ideas into products and services. Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) accompanies and supports them on their pathways to entrepreneurship by mitigating the risks encountered in their ventures. Our PreSeed and Seedfinancing programmes are the Edeltraud Stiftinger central pillars of our high-tech funding schemes. They provide Managing Director aws technology-oriented companies with crucial first-step funds in Bernhard Sagmeister their planning and growth phases. aws also supports innovative Managing Director aws ideas by offering consulting services and help in the search for investors. We believe in creative people and their visions. On the next pages, we are pleased to introduce you to the people and businesses we were able to assist in 2017.

8 9 aws PreSeed

aws supports high-tech enterprises in their pre-founding stage.

In order to make an innovative idea marketable, an enterprise needs a viable, ambitious business concept as a sound basis on which to set up a company. aws PreSeed helps to fund costs incurred during the early phase of foundation. Our special focus is on digitalisation, ICT, physical sciences, clean tech, quantum technology and life sciences.

aws PreSeed finances costs incurred by doing scientific work for and preparing the commercial utilisation of an innovative project. Such costs include expenses for studies and concepts, for consumable supplies and personnel. The maximum grant is € 200,000. It is paid out in performance-related tranches on the basis of a milestone concept. Terms normally range from 18 to 24 months.

www.preseed.at

10 11 aws Seedfinancing

aws accompanies high-tech enterprises throughout their founding and company building phases. It supports all kinds of high-tech businesses, spinoffs of universities and non- university research institutions. The focus is on digitalisation, ICT, physical sciences, clean tech, quantum technology and life sciences.

Building up an internationally competitive enterprise takes knowhow, courage and capital. aws Seedfinancing wants to bridge the funding gap that emerges between the product idea and its marketability. The programme supports investments for founding and market development, external consulting and resources. In addition, startups are given individualised assistance.

The maximum grant is € 800,000, repayable subject to conditions. Repayment is made from profits earned or from revenues from the sale or IPO of the company.

www.seedfinancing.at

12 13 Information and Communication Technology

14 15 Abacus https://abacus.ac

Abacus is developing a self- assistant for tax advisers and audit years of experience in managing audit learning accounting assistant departments that handles the fully departments in multinationals, as that undertakes fully-automated automated capturing and allocation of software developer and/or as owner of © Robert Niederl tax items as well as audits and checks an accounting service provider. In 2016, capturing, allocation and of entries. Thanks to its easily operated they decided to pool their knowhow checking of tax items. user surface, the assistant is ready for and develop an artificial intelligence for use within a few minutes of its installation. use as assistant for accountants. The Abacus is already at work in more than 500 Abacus accounting assistant digitalises companies. bookkeeping without the need for users Abacus Accounting Technologies GmbH The Abacus accounting assistant to acquire a technological background Pfeilgasse 32/20, A-1080 Vienna helps bookkeepers in their primary job Team with a corporate knowledge. of extracting and allocating business background Founded in 2016 Management: Ulrich Tröller transaction entries. The Vienna-based Founders Christoph Prieler, Patrick Large range of jobs company is developing a self-learning Sagmeister and Ulrich Tröller combine What the accounting assistant can do: https://abacus.ac

16 Information and Communication Technology 17 1) automatically create complete entries, of structured data and texts. In 2018, the 2) process items fully compliant with tax law company will focus on further developing in most countries, its algorithms and rolling out its product in 3) process both structured and Germany. unstructured input data of variable formats, and 4) be combined with most of the common bookkeeping systems.

Artificial intelligence Underpinning the accounting assistant are self-learning algorithms that constantly improve the degree of automation and analysis of bookkeeping records on the basis

18 Information and Communication Technology 19 Greenhive www.greenhive.at

Using Greenhive technology, across their vineyards, pumpkin fields and agricultural market are designed for human- pesticides are spread in vineyards orchards by automated drones. Thanks to assisted treatment of soil-based plants (such and orchards by a swarm of these drones precipitous or rain-sodden as rice), Greenhive believes that the future slopes are spared the ill effects but still is in automation. For founders Robert Borer autonomous drones, unrestricted enjoy the benefits of traditional pest control and Christian Semmelrath, both farmers, by adverse geography or weather- treatment. Moreover, with drones, soil this does not just mean automated flying caused soil conditions. compression is obviously no longer an but also automated loading of the drones. issue. In the past, farmers had a hard time The Greenhive technology is based on preventing fungal attacks after a rainfall three components that add autonomy, Greenhive GmbH since fungicide spraying was often a life- sensorics and work coordination to the well- Ratsch an der Weinstraße 59, A-8461 Ratsch Europe alone has 10 million hectares of threatening affair. established drone technology. farmland dedicated to growing perennials Founded in 2018 Management: Christian Semmelrath, Robert Borer which are intensely tended year after year. Autonomous drone labour Greenhive trio Greenhive helps farmers spread pesticides While current drone systems for the A Greenhive set consists of a flight www.greenhive.at

20 Information and Communication Technology 21 coordinator (greenhive Cortex), a vertical rough and steeply sloping terrain. Swarms of spraying unit (greenhive Bumblebee) and a Greenhive drones will help make pest control control and base station (greenhive Hive). significantly more efficient. Pest control by daily microspraying to reduce spray volumes and fungus detection by deep learning are logical enhancements of the technology.

Hovering help for vintners Viticulture is a typical best practice application for automated Greenhive drones: whether spraying pesticides or monitoring vine health – drones facilitate the cultivation of difficult areas that are characterised by

22 Information and Communication Technology 23 Invenium www.invenium.io

Invenium takes anonymised data be expected by traffic flow planners or Maximum privacy from mobile wireless signalling enterprises. Invenium Data Insights, a protection networks to obtain mobility company located in Graz, draws on such Invenium gets its basic data from © Melanie Kraxner information to track mobility patterns. The anonymised mobile wireless signalling patterns and utilise them for company analyses anonymous signalling networks. It does not use the network that planning traffic flows, customer data from the mobile telecommunications serves to exchange messages (emails, frequencies or visitor data. network to process them on a big calls, text messages, etc.) but rather the data platform and present them in an network that monitors network stability easily understood form. Authorities and and generates geotagged counts in Invenium Data Insights GmbH businesses alike take such information to anonymised form. Right from the start, Waagner-Biro-Straße 100, A-8020 Graz Mobile telecommunications data in their design traffic flows with a solid underpinning Invenium’s founders have made data privacy anonymised form visualise mobility. They of facts, project customer fluctuations on a prerequisite for their activities and even Founded in 2016 Management: Christopher Horn yield information about the volume and a given location or visualise visitor flows at ran a separate research project, funded by timing of pedestrians, cars or visitors to events. the Austrian Research Promotion Agency www.invenium.io

24 Information and Communication Technology 25 FFG, focusing on the subject before they rollout is envisaged to be completed in launched their company. 2018.

As a spinoff of Graz University of Technology and Know-Center GmbH, Invenium enjoys direct access to scientific resources – a prerequisite for setting up a secure platform of independent software architecture that can analyse a large number of data sources (mobile telecommunications, social media, corporate data) and make them available internationally. Currently, Invenium is concentrating on three sectors: public transport, retail and tourism. Its international

26 Information and Communication Technology 27 ONDEWO www.ondewo.com

ONDEWO is developing artificial- creates a platform that connects customers ONDEWO while he was working at Digital intelligence (AI) technologies and service providers. Prospective McKinsey, where he managed digitalisation that facilitate an automated customers post their demands via social projects for global corporations. Each © Studio Huger messaging channels. Service providers contact with domestic SMEs highlighted understanding of conversation such as hairdressers, masseurs or plumbers the growing digital gap between large and contents and automated human- connect to new customers in a wink by voice small businesses. However, closing this machine conversations. messages (e.g. via Alexa) or text messages gap also involved some challenges: the (via Facebook Messenger) in natural issue was to develop a technology that language: “ONDEWO, send me a customer can master the language of the complex ONDEWO GmbH The Viennese company ONDEWO develops now!” service sector in German. First attempts with Neubaugasse 21/2/29, A-1070 Vienna AI-based chatbot and voice assistants standard technologies failed and showed an that help small and medium-sized service Teaching the digital assistant to speak urgent need for innovation. If the algorithm Founded in 2017 Management: Andreas S. Rath providers find new customers on the digital and understand is to speak and understand exactly like a real-time market. ONDEWO’s technology Co-founder Andreas Rath had the idea for hairdresser, you need to talk to at least 100 www.ondewo.com

28 Information and Communication Technology 29 hairdressers. Obviously, acquiring customers acquisition of customers and also include will only work if ONDEWO also reaches the other business procedures used by SMEs consumers. To do so, the company relies on and one-person enterprises, e.g. for integration into social messaging channels, accounting or human resources planning. because it lets consumers instantly get to Thirdly, technological firms have recognised their service providers via ONDEWO by using the potential of ONDEWO’s solutions for their customary texting app. differentiating their products and offers.

On the expansion path ONDEWO has several plans for the near future. The first step is to expand from Vienna to other large cities in the German- speaking countries and beyond. The second step is to go beyond digitising the

30 Information and Communication Technology 31 Prewave www.prewave.ai

Prewave is developing a drastic consequences. However, the threat The “Prewave Prediction Engine” combines software-supported risk to supply networks is frequently recognised methods of natural language processing and management tool that uses too late. The damage for the world economy machine learning to analyse local social- was recently estimated to amount to € 320 media and news-media data and generate social-media and news- billion annually. alerts for risk events before they happen. media data to automatically Target customers are logistics service detect and predict risks for Automated alerts providers and manufacturers dependent on corporations. This is where Prewave comes in. The complex global supply chains. The alerts software of the Vienna-based startup enable them to react faster to potential risks. Prewave GmbH facilitates the timely recognition of imminent Floragasse 7, 7th floor, A-1040 Vienna dangers threatening a business’s work flow: Academic basis The highly complex division of labour in a Prewave is developing a novel technology Prewave is a spinoff of TU Wien (Vienna Founded in 2017 Management: Lisa Madlberger, Harald Nitschinger globalised economy involves great risks. that uses social-media data in the University of Technology). Lisa Madlberger Disruptions in the supply chain often have automated detection and prediction of risks. developed the Prewave technology in www.prewave.ai

32 Information and Communication Technology 33 her dissertation at TU Wien’s Institute Nitschinger work on improving the predictive of Software Technology and Interactive power of their software tool. For 2018/19, Systems and subsequently founded the they plan to introduce the technology to startup jointly with Harald Nitschinger. international markets and conquer new Together with their team, the two founders target sectors in the finance and insurance are refining the technology to better tailor industries. their software tool to the supply-chain- management market.

Fit for business According to the founders, their greatest challenge is to take the technology from the academic context to a scalable platform. After the pilot phase, Madlberger and

34 Information and Communication Technology 35 proactivaudio www.proactivaudio.com

The software developed by hands-free talking systems continue to be communication and can be used in many proactivaudio improves the audio of marginal interest for acoustic researchers. devices as it is not tied to any platform. In quality of video conferences and However, things are about to change: Luis future, the introduction of the latest wireless Weruago, a born Spaniard and professor communications technology known as hands-free talking systems by of communications engineering, as the “Voice over LTE” (VoLTE) in combination a patented echo- and noise- founder and technological mastermind of with proactivaudio’s software will raise the suppressing method. proactivaudio initiated a paradigmic change audio quality in cars to new levels – the in echo and noise suppression, opening voice will sound more natural and clearer. up a wide range of new options for speech The same effect can be obtained in digital proactivaudio GmbH High Tech Campus, Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse 8–12, recognition and sound quality. communication via web services. Initial tests A-1100 Vienna Home entertainment and hi-fi equipment have shown that proactivaudio achieves a strives for ever better sound quality, while Flexible use substantially better performance than any Founded in 2017 Management: Barbara Kieslinger, Luis Weruaga efforts to reduce the audio noise at video Proactivaudio’s software significantly audio technology currently propagated by conferences and clear the muffled sound of improves the performance of digital voice the major digital players. www.proactivaudio.com

36 Information and Communication Technology 37 Demonstration technology is currently tested in a project At present proactivaudio is working on an run in cooperation with a major Austrian app to demonstrate the benefits of superior corporation. It involves automated recording audio quality to potential users. Thanks to and transcription of discussions between the new software, phoning will be possible several parties. Potential applications range at the best audio quality, with the added from medicine to law. Proactivaudio plans to bonus of being able to simultaneously have as many users as possible profit from transmit music. First impressions of the new its technology: even Alexa is to be enabled technology can be gained by testing it on the to better understand its callers thanks to website. knowhow from Vienna.

Speech recognition with growth potential A most promising use of proactivaudio

38 Information and Communication Technology 39 subdron www.subdron.com

subdron is developing an foundations of wind power stations) is when exposed to the drifts of underwater automated navigation software very time- and cost-intensive. At present, structures. for submarine drones which remote-controlled diving robots or manual sight checks are used. From an economic Hamburg experience take reproducible 3D scans of point of view, a major hurdle is the high The subdron solution is undergoing hulls and underwater structures investment cost, especially for underwater practical tests in a pilot project at the port of at much lower cost than was navigation: current underwater navigation Hamburg. On behalf of the General Customs previously possible. systems are typically designed for long dives, Directorate, hulls are digitally charted. To this but founders Thomas Vonach and Simon end subdron deploys a submarine drone subdron GmbH Ladurner from Vorarlberg are opting for a provided by a partner, a three-dimensional Holzriedstraße 29, A-6960 Wolfurt low-cost solution that involves short and scanner developed by a Fraunhofer Institute With traditional methods a digital take near-surface dives. As an added bonus, this and its own navigation software. The Founded in 2018 Management: Thomas Vonach, Simon Ladurner of offshore shallow-water zones, hulls or approach minimises risks: human divers are special arrangement of sensors ensures underwater structures (dams, piers or the prone to have accidents in murky docks or that the distance to objects is continuously www.subdron.com

40 Information and Communication Technology 41 measured. A subdron algorithm uses the objects. The data may then be analysed and sensor data to calculate the route to be compared during detailed postprocessing – taken for examining the hull. another advantage over current underwater inspection methods. Automated and quick The experience gained in Hamburg confirms subdron’s approach: it takes just one person to launch the drone. Using the automated software, the drone scans the hull or pier without the need for presettings, until it has fully covered the target. A container vessel of 300 metres in length may need several scans for full coverage. Altogether, the subdron package yields digital images of underwater

42 Information and Communication Technology 43 Dimetor www.dimetor.com

Dimetor intends to use images positioning and alignment of transmitting This requires switching off the transmitter – a taken by autonomous drones antennas. Yet experience has shown that costly and time-consuming procedure. to optimise the positioning 20–30% of such information stored in the databases of mobile network operators is Drones rather than climbers and alignment of mobile faulty. Even though many processes need Dimetor is currently developing a solution transmitting antennas with a accurate data in order to work reliably, some that combines the fully automated special software. of these entries deviate by 50 metres from deployment of drones for image-capturing their actual altitude. Thomas Neubauer, a with a software for analysis. Software- communications engineer by profession, controlled drones fly up close to the Dimetor GmbH intends to identify and, if necessary, correct antennas to obtain clear images of the Windpassing 16, A-4203 Altenberg bei Linz Dimetor founder Thomas Neubauer has such faults through his company which transmitters. Sensors and measuring been into designing and optimising mobile is located in Upper Austria and Vienna. instruments collect further information. Founded in 2017 Management: Thomas Neubauer, Thomas Wana communications networks for many At present, technicians need to climb the Photogrammetry and other algorithms then years. Their performance depends on the towers in order to obtain correct values. analyse the data and compare them with www.dimetor.com

44 Information and Communication Technology 45 No pilots needed autonomous drones can be very useful for During the run-up phase it was found that, many purposes, among them drone flights for cost reasons, commercially used drones for farm and industry reconnaissance flights, need to operate without the help of pilots. utility inspections, public safety monitoring Accordingly Dimetor is developing a platform and even parcel deliveries – all of them that automatically optimises the flight route without human intervention. The objective is of autonomous drones. This process needs to launch the first commercial projects jointly to account for a multitude of conditions with international sales and development such as air space, radio space, regulatory partners by the end of 2019. requirements, as well as wind and weather conditions. the database entries, performing a fully providers who want to cut costs for site automated audit. For its product, Dimetor audits and significantly improve the quality of Strong interest primarily targets mobile communications their data. We found that such an enabler platform for

46 Information and Communication Technology 47 FARMDOK www.farmdok.com

The FARMDOK smartphone app (food safety, environmental protection) fields, estimates the quantity of resources allows farmers to record GPS and operational documentation and thus required and automatically calculates travel data of field cultivation patterns still rely on hand-written records of their and work times. Mobile collection of data agricultural production, use of fertilisers and during actual work improves their accuracy in order to obtain records for herbicides. This is where the FARMDOK and completeness, greatly cutting down on comparison and improve the app comes in handy: run on a smartphone, subsequent documentation or transferring of efficiency of cultivation. the app opens up agriculture to the benefits notes and calendar entries. of smart farming. Data from FARMDOK serve to analyse and optimise farm work Extremely user-friendly FARMDOK GmbH management. FARMDOK is based on widely used Krügling 7, A-3250 Wieselburg An average Austrian farm covers some technology such as smartphones or tablets. 19 hectares of arable land. Fully 92% of At work The four founders of FARMDOK designed Founded in 2015 Management: Andreas Prankl farms are worked by families. They have FARMDOK records the work directly on their app so that its digital data recording no office staff to handle the statutory the fields. Drawing on GPS data, it locates is integrated in the typical farmyard work www.farmdok.com

48 Information and Communication Technology 49 without any additional input on the part customers installed the smartphone app of the farmer. As a result, app handling within just six months. Following its market when working on the field is simplified to a entry in Germany in March 2018, FARMDOK minimum. commenced its rollout in all of Europe.

Own experience The founders, agronomists and engineers Andreas, Johann and Peter Prankl as well as Franz Heinzlmaier, have their roots in farming. They know that smart farming and digital records will be indispensable for farmers who want to set up sustainable operations. After they had launched their product in Austria in August 2017, 10,000

50 Information and Communication Technology 51 myClubs www.myclubs.com

myClubs bundles the programmes 600 clubs, which can be booked through As a result, corporate-sponsored training of more than 600 sports providers the myClubs app. By combining a wide programmes are rarely or never used and in a single membership. Their range of sports with digital access, myClubs enterprises have little knowledge of the attracts not just prospective end customers. extent to which sports offers are actually services can be booked and With the company’s B2B solution, founder taken up by their staff. administered with an app. Tobias Homberger tackles a problem that is a typical cause of failure for many corporate Team coordination by app fitness programmes. With an offer ranging from fitness to yoga, crossfit, tennis, boxing and swimming myClubs GmbH myClubs combines access to sports Solutions for businesses myClubs Corporate Health opens up Schottenfeldgasse 85/4, A-1070 Vienna services offered throughout Austria in a Companies normally limit their support to a wide supply of favourite sports to all single membership. In Austria, myClubs financing fitness studio membership fees staff members, thereby fostering team- Founded in 2014 Management: Tobias Homberger customers have a weekly choice of over and thus disregard sporting interests outside building through jointly practised sports. 3,500 sports activities offered in more than standard strength and conditioning training. The business solution aims at enterprises www.myClubs.com

52 Information and Communication Technology 53 that want to give their staff a large choice Austria and Switzerland. The startup plans of sports with peer-assessment qualities. to expand to further cities and countries. myClubs Corporate Health is the ticket Its long-term goal is to become one of the to a large selection of sports, course leading quality providers of sports in Europe. schedules and locations that are promoted by targeted marketing and computer-based intervention through the app. A specially developed corporate dashboard provides an anonymised visualisation of the take-up level for each type of sports.

International rollout At present, myClubs is available to B2C and B2B customers in 15 cities and regions in

54 Information and Communication Technology 55 Ocean Maps www.ocean-maps.com

Ocean Maps is the first map around for information, he found that “Mars For all systems maker worldwide to offer is better mapped than are underwater Divers can explore coral reefs such as Big interactive three-dimensional areas”. A born Salzburger, he founded Brother or famous shipwrecks such as SS Ocean Maps which uses state-of-the-art Thistlegorm or MV Salem Express in four underwater maps for divers sonars, loggers and visualisation software types of depiction as briefings before their based on high-resolution sonar, to chart reefs, faults and shipwrecks as well dive. An app available from Ocean Maps satellite and video data. as create interactive, three-dimensional dive provides superior-quality three-dimensional maps that are more accurate than anything simulations for PC, Mac, iOS and Android currently on the market. They offer amateur tablets. Ocean Maps GmbH divers and professionals the same access Alpenstraße 99, A-5020 Salzburg Thomas Nemetz wanted to know what to state-of-the-art visualisations that provide Image of reality the underwater world of Attersee, a lake a better understanding of conditions under The mapping process developed by Ocean Founded in 2015 Management: Thomas Nemetz in Upper Austria, and the Red Sea looked water, thereby improving the safety of Maps is divided into three parts. First comes like – without actually diving. Scouting diving. data collection. A specialised survey team www.ocean-maps.com

56 Information and Communication Technology 57 involves representing the surveyed locations plants and offshore systems. At present in 3D format and combining metadata with the company offers 406 maps that can be the models. In a third step, Ocean Maps studied before diving – from the Attersee in delivers the maps to the customers. the Austrian Salzkammergut to the Red Sea hotspots and the Florida Keys in the USA. From diving schools to port authorities Customers ordering a survey of a sea or lake bed from Ocean Maps typically have a sports background. They include collects and stores all necessary data using seafarers, harbour masters and fishermen scuba and skin diving schools, sailing and the latest sonar and video technology. to get inside information which is then boating schools, ports, fisheries and tourist The Ocean Maps team also contacts processed to obtain highly detailed maps. operations. Utilities also rely on Ocean local partners such as diving instructors, The second step, i.e. post-production, Maps technology when designing power

58 Information and Communication Technology 59 Waytation www.waytation.com

The Viennese startup Waytation thousands of anonymous visitors at all are processed per event. Based on this uses small sensors to track types of events and fairs. The collected information, organisers can analyse which visitors at trade fairs and provides data provide organisers and exhibitors with booths work well, which locations in the © www.sebastianfreiler.com a breakdown of actual frequency rates at halls are popular or which lectures are well organisers and exhibitors with exhibit halls and events. attended, which, in turn, facilitates the information. optimisation of prices, spatial design and Visitor flow analyses programme. Waytation’s software records the movements of visitors in function rooms and halls of Exhibitors get feedback Waytation GmbH Instead of cameras, RFID chips or mobile trade fairs. The non-personalised data are Waytation’s solution also permits Phorusgasse 8/15, A-1040 Vienna apps, Waytation uses “smart” badges and transmitted via bluetooth and consolidated movement analyses for specific booths. proprietary sensor hardware to survey into visitor flow analyses by a cloud It has been difficult for exhibitors to judge Founded in 2016 Management: Cemsit Yelgin trade fairs. The big data solution developed software. Founder and CEO Cemsit Yelgin their performance at trade fairs. After an in-house captures the movements of estimates that around 900 million datasets event, there is hardly any other indicator www.waytation.com

60 Information and Communication Technology 61 for success than the number of business customers all over the world. As Waytation cards left at their booths. Similar to Google has been an international player right Analytics, Waytation provides information from the start, it was awarded the title on frequencies, time spent at the booth and “Austria’s Born Global Champion” by the other targeted locations. Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in 2018. The company plans to strongly International DNA expand its international presence in 2019. The young company wants to revolutionise Large-scale orders like the one at CeBIT the two-century-old conference and 2018 in Hannover impressively document exhibition market. Thanks to funds Waytation’s potential in the trade fair market. from investors and aws, the team of 15 developers, in 2017, was able to push the technique up to a level that has enabled

© www.sebastianfreiler.com © www.sebastianfreiler.com the company to run parallel projects with

62 Information and Communication Technology 63 WUGGL www.wuggl.com

Austrian startup WUGGL is Pig-breeders get the weight of the animal farmers compared to traditional weighing. developing a mobile measuring by taking a whole-body image that promptly “Weighing without scales” involves a simple device that offers a simple and shows its weight – a fast, straightforward snapshot of the animal, which greatly Lukas Ilgner © Trend and ongoing method to monitor the pigs’ reduces the strain on the pig – an obvious quick method to determine the weight. It works in the barn or pen or advantage of “wuggling”. weight of pigs by optical body anywhere. The image-supported scanning scanning – without mechanical of animals is the next step towards smart Weighing without scales scales. farming. WUGGL One looks very much like a smartphone: it is fitted with a three- WUGGL GmbH Benefits for pig farmers and porkers dimensional image sensor and armoured Göttling 6, A-8403 Lebring In May 2015, WUGGL was set up by Marcus to withstand the day-to-day rigours of the “Wuggling” is as simple as can be. An optical Schweinzger, an engineer, and Alois Temmel, farmyard. Optical weighing resembles a Founded in 2015 Management: Marcus Schweinzger, Alois Temmel body scan identifies the weight of pigs on a vet, in Southern Styria. The new method snapshot taken with the mobile phone: the hoof, simply, accurately and quickly. radically reduces the work input required by simply focus on the pig, snap a picture and www.wuggl.com

64 Information and Communication Technology 65 the device promptly shows you the weight. The WUGGL startup thus contributes to WUGGLE One will also be available as a responsible animal husbandry and resource- version for smartphones (Android, iOS), friendly agriculture. consisting of a snap-on 3D image sensor and a software application (mobile app) to be installed on the phone.

Stress-free for pigs and farmers alike Compared to conventional methods, this new way to weigh pigs greatly reduces the workload of pig-breeders. Porkers remain calm when their weight is taken.

66 Information and Communication Technology 67 Physical Sciences PHS www.phsolutions.at

The fully automated quick of Technology, visited a parcel distribution handled by CEP (courier, express and unloading system designed by centre operated by the Austrian Postal parcel) services, logistics centres need PHS for logistics centres more Service in order to help eliminate a problem. to cope with ever greater volumes of © The Schubidu Quartet Their attention was drawn to the manual business where manual unloading of than doubles the speed of parcel unloading of lorry containers to feed parcels transport vehicles clashes with widely unloading compared to manual into the automatic sorter. Given the fully automated downstream handling. The handling. automated surrounding, the procedure solution developed by Wolfschluckner was time-consuming and put considerable and Fritz involves a rapid unloading physical strain on the workers. A discussion facility that is unique worldwide. PHS’s PHS Logistiktechnik GmbH in the Institute’s coffee room led to the initial technology is based on bulk handling Gradnerstraße 120 (Halle 3c), A-8054 Graz The idea came at an excursion into practice. idea that underlies the final product. which significantly accelerates the Andreas Wolfschluckner and Matthias throughput by simultaneously handling Founded in 2017 Management: Andreas Wolfschluckner, Matthias Fritz Fritz, at the time lecturers at the Institute E-commerce as sectoral driver large volumes of parcels. Moreover, of Technical Logistics at Graz University In view of the growing number of parcels automating the unloading procedure www.phsolutions.at

70 Physical Sciences 71 reduces the physical strain (ergonomics) for all lorries at low cost. The unloading system parcel handlers. is being developed and produced at the company’s premises in Graz. Easy to retrofit The technology consists of a strap system for lorry containers and a stationary module that can be quickly docked onto the lorry. The strap automatically pushes the parcels out of the container and evenly distributes them across the existing conveying system. A curtain at the docking station breaks the fall of parcels stored in the top part of the container to prevent them from being damaged. The system can be retrofitted in

72 Physical Sciences 73 PrintStones www.printstones.at

PrintStones is developing a three- like materials for use directly on the building present, the printing speed is about 150 mm dimensional printing process for site. per second. cement-like materials that can be Flexible on location Delicately balanced interaction used to make component parts Applying the PrintStones process, the user For the founders the challenge is to optimise of any required shape directly on can produce component parts of any shape, the system parameters in order to get the the building site. colour and texture right on the construction interaction between machine components, site, thus making do without the cost of environmental conditions, materials and 3D transport and fitting of the parts. Moreover, models just right. Practical testing on site PrintStones GmbH the PrintStones method reduces CO2 and is scheduled to start in 2019, jointly with Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse 8–12, A-1100 Vienna PrintStones is a Vienna-based startup that particulate emission during construction. selected pilot customers. deals with automation in construction. The patented process is ideally suited to Founded in 2017 Management: Saban Keskin, Herwig Hengl, Hüseyin Keskin It focuses on developing 3D printing produce parts exposed to compression Test modules in 3D processes for concrete and other cement- loads for civil engineering purposes. At PrintStones is a spinoff of TU Wien (Vienna www.printstones.at

74 Physical Sciences 75 SES www.ship-emission.solutions

The methanol-based system practical solution is indispensable in order to for storing hydrogen developed achieve the energy turnaround necessary to by SES in Innsbruck holds the comply with the climate targets. The method patented by Christian Mair improves the substance at a much greater storage of hydrogen as an energy carrier and density than the customary thus facilitates its use. At his company SES high-pressure method while he developed a methanol-based system for University of Technology). The business virtual parts. As this was a rather costly and maintaining a similar energy storing hydrogen at a considerably higher idea emerged during the development of a time-consuming procedure, a method was density than is possible with traditional simulation tool designed to perform stress sought to produce the parts directly from 3D efficiency rate. methods while maintaining a similar energy and deformation analyses in component models. efficiency rate. parts. In order to verify the results of the analyses it was necessary to actually Energy storage is one of the greatest Cost-effective method construct and put weights on the initially technological challenges today. Finding a The storage technology, safeguarded

76 Physical Sciences 77 by patents, uses an innovative methanol synthesis reformation cycle. Methanol is reformed by a very low-cost, highly selective membrane process developed jointly with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS). The storage system is state of the art when it comes to storing large volumes of hydrogen without regard to location (i.e. in tanks rather SES – Ship Emission Solutions than subterranean caverns) over long periods Tiergartenstraße 27, A-6020 Innsbruck without leakage losses. Founded in 2013 Management: Christian Mair For ships and trains

© x-default Thanks to its high storage density and www.ship-emission.solutions

78 Physical Sciences 79 Easelink www.easelink.com

energy efficiency, the method is ideal to ships based on the technology developed Austrian startup Easelink has an Austrian startup, pursues a totally new operate high-powered vehicles (in particular by SES. developed a technology to approach to charging: the batteries are ships and freight trains) from renewable automatically charge e-vehicles automatically regenerated via connectors sources across vast distances without the and floor pads. The method does not require need for refuelling or linking up with an via a pad attached to the floor – cables or charging posts, and charging electricity grid. whether in an underground car is automated: the driver simply parks the park or on a parking lot. vehicle on the pad – where it is charged Building a prototype while out of use. In February 2018, a project submitted by SES together with twelve partners Matrix Charging to the “Horizon 2020” programme was For electric vehicles, idle periods could The Matrix Charging concept developed selected for funding by the European be potentially used for recharging, except by Easelink uses conductive power Commission. The project aims to build that current charging technologies do not transmission by a physical connection. A a prototype for storing hydrogen in provide for automated charging. Easelink, connector lowered from the underbody

80 Physical Sciences 81 of the e-vehicle automatically docks on to a pad which is fitted to the floor and

connected to the electric grid. Clumsy © The Schubidu Quartet parking does not matter as the connector automatically aligns with the pad. Every vehicle downtime can be used to recharge the car.

International standard Easelink GmbH A conductive connection allows a charging Münzgrabenstraße 94, A-8010 Graz capacity of up to 22 kW (AC) or 43 kW (DC), at an efficiency of over 99%, regardless of Founded in 2016 Management: Hermann Stockinger the vehicle’s position. Compared to this, induction solutions based on electromagnetic www.easelink.com

82 Physical Sciences 83 ENPULSION www.enpulsion.com

waves perform at less than a quarter of this are substantially cheaper than currently used The startup established in will now find cylinder-sized micro- and rate at virtually zero parking tolerance. Matrix solutions or those in the pipeline. Matrix Wiener Neustadt is designing nanosatellites weighing 3-100 kg. They Charging is currently undergoing tests by a Charging can be integrated in any serially and manufacturing small orbit Earth and send back high-resolution number of car makers internationally. Great manufactured car and enables automated images or undertake exacting tasks for Wall Motors (GWM) from Asia presented the charging in all automobile segments. thrusters that can manoeuvre telecommunications. Alexander Reissner, technology at the recent IAA in Frankfurt in a satellites weighing 3-100 kg founder and manager of ENPULSION, concept car of the WEY premium brand. in space and that can be an innovator based in Wiener Neustadt, combined into larger clusters. has specialised on developing and Viable manufacturing the thrusters that keep such In the mid-term, Easelink founder Hermann miniature space missiles on course. Stockinger intends to turn Matrix Charging into the global standard. To achieve this goal, The space business has changed. Modular design the technology needs to be economically Where once gigantic booster rockets ENPULSION combines the mini viable. As a system, the pad and connector launched huge satellites into space, you propulsion units into a thruster cluster.

84 Physical Sciences 85 The system consists of small modules that are connected to make up larger

units to fit satellites of various sizes. Each © Ben Leitner of these thrusters can be individually controlled and thus universally used to manoeuvre satellites. The first units were sold immediately after the company was launched.

ENPULSION GmbH Energy from indium Viktor-Kaplan-Straße 2, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt The thrusters are fuelled with indium, a silvery-white element shipped in its solid Founded in 2016 Management: Alexander Reissner state. Unlike chemical or gaseous fuels that

Fotos: © Daniel hinteramskogler are typically poisonous or explosion-prone, www.enpulsion.com

86 Physical Sciences 87 Perception Park www.perception-park.com

indium is a totally unproblematic metal and present ENPULSION is about to expand its The software technology to recall millions of chocolate bars because has a high energy density. production capacities to satisfy the booming developed by the Graz-based tiny plastic particles were found in one single demand. startup uses colour images to bar. Perception Park has addressed this Low-cost and quick expensive and health-threatening problem. ENPULSION is the first enterprise in the depict the molecular structure Thanks to its hyperspectral imaging such world that offers such customised thrusters. of materials. Hence, impurities plastic particles can be detected and As the modular design not only improves and contaminants can be removed during the manufacturing process. the quality of propulsion but also radically immediately identified in sorting changes the manufacturing processes, the Colourful company is able to offer its modules at a and manufacturing processes. As hyperspectral imaging supports the low price and with extremely short delivery depiction and assessment of data on times. Every year there is demand for the molecular composition of materials, hundreds of nanothrusters that will gradually It happens more often than you would e.g. by way of a simple colour scheme, replace the traditional large-scale models. At expect: an international food company has impurities and contaminants, but also the

88 Physical Sciences 89 concentration and distribution of chemical substances can be measured in real time during sorting and manufacturing processes. These features make the technology interesting for the food processing, pharmaceutical and recycling industries. © x-default Measuring in real time In addition to the camera technology for Perception Park GmbH capturing the molecular composition of Nikolaiplatz 4, A-8020 Graz substances, the method also requires a software that translates this complex Founded in 2012 Management: Manfred Pail, Markus Burgstaller information into readable colours within a split second. www.perception-park.com

90 Physical Sciences 91 Rebeat www.hdvinyl.org

Global distribution network desired and is compatible with various Rebeat offers a high definition volume since 1991. Although more and Perception Park’s “Chemical Colour system components via plug-in interfaces. vinyl technology that laser-cuts more customers return to vinyl, there Imaging” software makes the company Hence, the company’s distribution network audio data onto record vinyl, has been little change in the 80-year-old a pioneer in the industrial utilisation is continuously expanded. Meanwhile, technology as such. However, Günther of a technology that has its roots in Perception Park has acquired strong a method that raises sound Loibl, founder of Rebeat, a startup located astronautics. Since 2016, Perception Park partners not only in Europe but also in quality and playing times to at Tulln, is about to bring some dynamics has cooperated with Stemmer Imaging, Japan, South Korea, South East Asia and new levels. into the record technology. His HD Vinyl Europe’s leading provider of image Israel. technology, for which a patent has been processing solutions, located in Puchheim filed, uses a laser to make ceramic HD Vinyl near Munich. In Perception Park founders stampers, i.e. templates from which the Markus Burgstaller and Manfred Pail have Vinyl is back in fashion. For 2016, the actual records are pressed. This raises the the only company that owns a self-learning British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reported sound quality to a previously unattainable data processing platform which can be an increase in vinyl sales by fully 53%, to level. The fact that the HD Vinyl records handled intuitively, can be configured as more than 3.2 million records – the highest are fully compatible with traditional record

92 Physical Sciences 93 players is one more factor to boost the potential for success.

Laser ensures consistent quality The HD Vinyl technology developed by Rebeat jointly with Joanneum Research involves a laser cutting the groove into the stamper. Thanks to its sheer precision, the laser is superior to Rebeat Innovation GmbH conventional tools. Its cutting performance Gutenbergstraße 23, A-3430 Tulln does not depend on frequency so that the audio quality does not deteriorate Founded in 2016 Management: Günter Loibl but remains at a high level. For the new method, the audio files are augmented www.hdvinyl.org

94 Physical Sciences 95 grooves, which packs about 30% more Rebeat intends to have a market share of information and 30% more sound volume 80% in five years. into the same space. A further significant improvement is the fact that the sound quality no longer deteriorates so starkly when the stylus approaches the centre of the record. Moreover, the new process steps up record production times.

Works on every turntable A key strategic approach pursued by Günter Loibl is to develop a sound carrier format by computer and then engraved onto the 30% more information that can be played regardless of the brand. stamper. HD Vinyl optimises the gaps between He has made a great start. With HD Vinyl,

96 Physical Sciences 97 Solabolic www.solabolic.com

Advancements made by consumption and manufacturing costs. Need for Solabolic in parabolic trough The laws of physics utilised by this novel improvement technology have improved design were harnessed by Ahmed Adel, The business proposition arose from an engineer and founder in Vienna: the irritation and annoyance: Ahmed Adel the efficiency and economic patented parabolic trough collector sold wanted to buy a parabolic trough feasibility of large-scale solar by Solabolic has a perfect parabolic collector for his master thesis at TU Wien power generation systems by shape that does not require any complex (Vienna’s Technical University). Given the more than 30%. manufacturing technology. The Solabolic low number of suppliers, it was a long technology allows producing the world’s and tedious search that twice ended Solabolic GmbH High Tech Campus, Gutheil-Schoder-Gasse 8–12, largest parabolic trough collectors of with a collector delivered in damaged A-1100 Vienna 10–15 metres in diameter that require condition – more time and money lost for Over 100 years ago, suspension bridges 20–30% less material. Previous Ahmed Adel who came to the conclusion Founded in 2016 Management: Ahmed Adel revolutionised the feasible span of bridges, technologies offered apertures of a that this field was in urgent need of substantially reducing both material maximum of 7.5 metres. optimisation. www.solabolic.com

98 Physical Sciences 99 Much greater efficiency Secure demand Parabolic trough collectors concentrate Simplified sun tracking, low LCOE and high sunlight to a focal line by reflecting it along yield combine to give parabolic troughs a a concave trough, thereby generating heat market share of 95% in the concentrated or electricity. The Solabolic-patented design solar power industry. Solabolic plans to reduces the investment costs for a solar install a 50 MW plant (0.6% of the parabolic field by about 35% and cuts down levelised trough market) jointly with an industrial cost of electricity (LCOE) by around 15%. partner in 2019. Thanks to such cuts, Solabolic’s industrial partners (licensees) can double their profits and still utilise a 16% bonus over traditional technologies.

100 Physical Sciences 101 Life Sciences aws LISA – Life Science Austria

Bringing life sciences from the lab to the market

Austria as a business location will benefit from the most innovative ideas only once they have made it from the lab to the market. Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) has established Life Science Austria (LISA) as a one-stop shop that spans the entire value- added chain of startups in the life sciences. LISA provides customised support at every stage of a startup’s development.

www.lifescienceaustria.at

104 105 BHS Technologies www.bhs-technologies.com

BHS Technologies is building never been substantially refined. Markus The surgeon has to adapt to the an operating microscope that Hütter and Michael Santek, the founders operating microscope and must ergonomically adapts to the of BHS Technologies, consider this to be assume awkward positions for longer surprisingly neglectful: humankind has periods in order to view the operating surgeon rather than vice versa – meanwhile been to the moon but there field from the perspective required for as has been the case to date. has been no progress whatsoever in the surgery. operating microscopy. • To be able to visualise the entire operating field and to make delicate Inflexible microscopy structures (nerves, blood vessels, etc.) BHS Technologies GmbH In microsurgery, the operating Currently used microscopy technology has detectable, the surgeon must frequently Mitterweg 60, A-6020 Innsbruck microscope is the surgeon’s most significant drawbacks: change the viewing angle, which can important tool. The currently used only be done manually and requires Founded in 2017 Management: Markus Hütter, Michael Santek technology is based on a concept • From an ergonomic viewpoint, it is putting down the surgical tool each and developed in the late 1950s and has extremely strenuous for the physician. every time the angle is changed. www.bhs-technologies.com

106 Life Sciences 107 Operations in the ear, neurosurgical hospitals in collaboration with the users. The interventions (intervertebral discs), tumour feedback was overwhelming. removals and plastic surgery are typical microsurgical interventions carried out with Competitive costs the aid of a microscope. The founding team works towards making the company’s technology fit for the market. Noticeable improvements The target is to successfully launch the The operating microscope developed by the high-tech medical device by offering it at a startup located in Innsbruck eliminates these competitive price. BHS Technologies plans drawbacks: the first pilot tests found work to bring the first microscopes to the market ergonomics and operating procedures to be by mid 2020. substantially improved. A functional surgical microscope built by BHS Technologies from

© Wolfgang Voglhuber © Wolfgang standard components was tested in several

108 Life Sciences 109 CCORE

CCORE, a spinoff of the Medical than 24 hours. The fact that the mortality platform technology (LiquiClear®) will save University of Vienna, is developing rate of these patients is extremely high (up lives and cut down on the enormously high new methods for minimally to 40%) is due to the underlying disease, treatment costs. © Georg Schlosser but also to additional lung injury caused by invasive blood purification that invasive mechanical ventilation. Removing respiratory air by suction are based on a patent-pending The first product to be developed is a platform technology. Founders Claus G. Krenn and Roman minimally invasive catheter for purifying Ullrich have studied and taught intensive blood (minimally invasive liquid lung – MILL) care medicine for more than 20 years. At designed for removing carbon dioxide CCore Technology GmbH (CCORE), they from the blood. Patients suffering from In Europe, the USA and Japan, 0.4 to 0.5% are developing a solution to prevent lung acute or chronic lung diseases are unable CCore Technology GmbH of the population are admitted to intensive injury caused by invasive ventilation methods to sufficiently clear the carbon dioxide Argentinierstraße 35/22, A-1040 Vienna

care units every year. One out of three such or even avoid, or largely reduce, the need generated by metabolic processes in their Founded in 2015 patients needs artificial respiration for more for invasive ventilation. The patent-pending bodies by exhaling it via the lung. While Management: Thomas Herndl

110 Life Sciences 111 meemo-tec www.meemo-tec.com

conventional methods withdraw the blood in the medical engineering sector to finalise meemo-tec’s smartphone app and economic consequences. meemo-tec’s from the body and then purify it in an the product and launch it on the market. supports people suffering from Graz-based startup trio wants to prevent an extracorporeal circuit, CCORE pursues a After the first round of financing, which bipolar disorder in their daily lives escalation of the disorder with the help of its novel approach. A catheter containing a has facilitated funding the first years of UP! smartphone app. membrane is inserted into the patient and basic research by government research and connects them with persons assists in at least partially removing harmful funds, some serious contacts with potential they trust. Smart linked-up companion

substances (CO2) from the body via a strategic partners have already been made. The small software programme UP! studies second circuit using a carrier solution. the everyday behaviour of people with According to the WHO around 60 million bipolar affective disorder based on their Looking for a strategic partner people worldwide suffer from bipolar smartphone usage and relates it to their Developing MILLx® up to regulatory affective disorder, a condition better known mental health status. Using intelligent approval will require a total investment of as manic-depressive illness. These people algorithms, the programme is designed around € 15 million. CCORE’s strategy is repeatedly experience phases of depression to detect shifts from healthy daily routines to collaborate with a development partner and mania which often entail serious social towards behaviours favouring the disorder

112 Life Sciences 113 between their day-to-day lives and depression and/or mania. © The Schubidu Quartet Social integration UP! Buddy, an accompanying app, is the first to integrate the social environment into the care of bipolar people by linking them with persons they trust. UP! Buddy is designed for family members, partners meemo-tec OG and close friends who play an important Grieskai 74a, A-8020 Graz role in managing crises. UP! Buddy and to counteract this development. automatically records physical activities, enables them to contribute to preventing Founded in 2016 Management: Christian Pendl Users document their daily activities and work-life-balance and sleeping habits, relapses, easily, quickly, even across assess their mood with UP!. The app also enabling users to better understand links cities, countries and continents. Moreover, www.meemo-tec.com

114 Life Sciences 115 MITS www.susupport.com

users can generate health reports covering friendships. The idea for UP! emanates from MITS’ technology allows testing technologies. Single-use bags are the several weeks, which give physicians and this liminal experience. single-use bags commonly backbone of these technologies. As the therapists a better overview of the course employed in biopharmaceutical term implies, this type of packaging is of the disease and help them improve their only used once. The supplier ships the therapies. production for 100% integrity customised, sterile bags to the user. right at the point of use. Single use lowers the risk of cross- Personal involvement contamination to a minimum. Moreover, The bipolar disease of a close friend the biopharmaceutical company need not motivated Manfred Weiss, Ralph Gruber deal with validating cleaning processes and and Christian Pendl to found meemo-tec. Patient safety is a crucial issue in the sterility. The then girl friend of one of the founders biopharmaceutical industry. To prevent repeatedly experienced episodes of contamination and ensure sterility, Integrity and sterility at the depression and mania, which made her pharmaceutical manufacturing and point of use lose her job, break up relationships and research increasingly rely on single-use Due to regulatory requirements

116 Life Sciences 117 users repeatedly face the question of potential leakage. There are very reliable manufacturing processes and devices for checking integrity, which are, however, only available at the manufacturing site. When the bags leave the factory, they are gamma-sterilised, then stored for a long time, shipped and made ready for use at the customer’s site. Before these bags are MITS GmbH utilised, damage may have occurred that Endach 36, A-6330 Kufstein jeopardises their sterility. The technologies currently offered for testing integrity at the Founded in 2016 Management: Thomas Wurm, Johannes Kirchmair point of use are not sufficiently sensitive to ensure sterility. www.susupport.com

118 Life Sciences 119 NP Life Science Technologies www.nplifescience.com

Helium as a safeguard first half of 2018. Meanwhile the company The Linz-based company is national economy as they result in 8.5 million MITS has developed a technology for has also been granted a patent for its developing and manufacturing working days of reduced work ability, i.e. running a 100% integrity test at the very technology. neural-like implants that support costs of € 2 billion, and five million days of place the single-use bags will be actually occupational disability each year. used. The test has a 2 ym detection limit the body in regenerating (1 yoctometer = 10–24 metres), which suffices traumatised peripheral nerves. Numbness to assure that the bags are sterile. The In case of serious injuries, the standard technology is based on filling the bag with treatment is to replace a destroyed motor helium and using a mass spectrometer nerve by a “non-vital” sensory nerve. After to detect leaking helium, which can be Of the 320 million people living in the US, successful treatment, patients regain their measured and indicated. each year an estimated 660,000 patients mobility but lose sensory abilities, which, in have their neural injuries treated with turn, reduces their quality of life. This is a The first routine usage of MITS’ technology implants to reconnect cut nerves. These high price to pay. In case of minor injuries, at the customer end was planned for the injuries have significant implications for the severed nerve ends are bridged by tubings,

120 Life Sciences 121 which have some shortcomings as they the growth of regenerating nervous cells Rudolf Schröder, Ian Teasdale and Oliver consist of polymers that do not always meet between the nervous ends is instantly Brüggemann – significantly raises the the mechanical requirements of the nervous guided and regeneration is accelerated. The chances of injured patients to regain their tissue. Their degradation products may polymer’s particular chemical properties quality of life. For national economies it even cause local toxic effects. Moreover, facilitate the adaptation of the mechanical reduces costs for treatment and eases the the human organism must form all nervous properties to the requirements of the nervous burden on the social system. structures in the tubing itself to guide the tissue and the covalent bonding of growth- cells growing between the linked ends. stimulating substances. The degradation products are non-toxic, neutral substances NP Life Science Technologies KG A solution developed in Linz that are removed via metabolic processes. Hafenstraße 47–51, A-4020 Linz The novel implant developed by the startup NP Life Science Technologies replicates Regaining quality of life Founded in 2016 Management: Klaus Rudolf Schröder the acellular structure of a nerve by many The innovation developed by the three small, parallely aligned channels. Hence, scientists and founders – i.e. Klaus www.nplifescience.com

122 Life Sciences 123 UriSalt www.urisalt.com

The Tyrolian startup UriSalt is pressure is frequently caused by high Point-of-care tests developing non-invasive tests for sodium intake via industrially processed food The first item on UriSalt’s agenda is to doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies that contains high levels of salt. Moreover, develop SODISENS, an affordable point- a wide range of severe conditions such as of-care test (POCT) for assessing the and self-testing that immediately cystic fibrosis and diarrhoea or side effects body’s sodium metabolism from urine. analyse and monitor important of critical medications lead to chronic POCT indicates that these tests can be body electrolytes from urine hyponatraemia. At present, the sodium done outside conventional laboratory specimens. status is usually assessed by blood tests. settings, for example in doctors’ surgeries As this method is invasive and logistically or wards. The SODISENS test comprises UriSalt GmbH complex, it is only conditionally suitable for a single-use urine test strip and a portable General-Eccher-Straße 38/53, A-6020 Innsbruck screening and monitoring. If disorders in the readout meter featuring software for Electrolytes are crucial for our health. Around sodium metabolism are not treated in time, analysis, display and data management. Founded in 2018 Management: Gerda Fuhrmann, Pinar Kilickiran two billion people suffer from derangements they lead to severe or even life-threatening The test gives an instant result and is of their sodium metabolism. High blood health complications. so easy to handle that it can also be www.urisalt.com

124 Life Sciences 125 performed by patients themselves. An develop more urine POCTs for other gained in the private sector to the app provides a direct link to the physician important electrolytes and to offer a company. treating the patient. comprehensive portfolio of non-invasive tests. Other planned projects Team The great technical challenges are The idea to develop a simple test for manufacturing a stable test strip and assessing the sodium metabolism from designing a portable readout meter. A urine is based on decades of Peter prototype of the readout meter has been Heinz-Erian’s clinical experience with available since April 2018. The company patients suffering from chronic electrolyte subsequently plans to validate SODISENS disorders. Gerda Fuhrmann and Pinar in first clinical studies. UriSalt wants to Kilickiran bring many years of professional use its proprietary core technology to experience in the development of sensors

126 Life Sciences 127 Valanx Biotech http://valanx.bio

Valanx Biotech is developing help of biological systems. The best-known solution elaborated by the two founders a method that permits easy examples are interferons and antibodies, Michael Lukesch and Patrik Fladischer modification of proteins and both of which are used to treat cancer. avoids problems arising from the use of conventional systems. avoids problems encountered Need for modification in conventional modification The properties of proteins in terms of Artificial docking site chemistry contexts. metabolic stability and efficacy constitute The technology is based on a novel a challenge in their development as amino acid which is placed into the target therapeutics. Hence, proteins often have proteins at defined sites with the help of Valanx Biotech GmbH to be modified after their production. a specifically developed bacterium. Any Opernring 16/1, A-8010 Graz Protein therapeutics are prominent Given the complex protein chemistry, this desired modification can be attached to representatives of the so-called is a complicated and laborious process. the artificial docking site created in the Founded in 2017 Management: Michael Lukesch biopharmaceuticals. In the pharmaceutical Valanx Biotech is developing a method that protein in this way. The fact that Valanx world, these are drugs produced with the permits easy modification of proteins. The Biotech uses inexpensive base materials http://valanx.bio

128 Life Sciences 129 Allcyte www.allcyte.com

to produce the amino acid gives the Improved production methods Allcyte is developing new in-vitro Gregory Vladimer and Nikolaus Krall, three company a considerable cost advantage The greatest challenge faced by the test methods to determine the former postdocs at the CeMM (Research over competitors. This modification is a founders is to bring the Valanx method to the most effective cancer therapy for Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian unique selling point as compared to currently level of established competitive techniques. Academy of Sciences), decided to develop available technologies. Hence their current focus is on optimising specific patients and/or groups novel in-vitro test methods for identifying the production that can be translated into of patients. most effective cancer therapy for specific Wide range of applications commercially viable solutions. patients and/or patient groups. The team Valanx Biotech’s platform technology can is complemented by Giulio Superti-Furga, be used to develop agents for a wide range Ninety-five percent of all projects developing scientific director of the CeMM and himself of indications. To do so, the company novel cancer therapies fail during preclinical an experienced biotech innovator and intends to collaborate with partners from the and clinical testing. Depending on the founder. pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, Valanx therapy, a mere 20-60% of all cancer Biotech’s technology is used for producing inpatients respond to their medication. In Allcyte’s test methods are designed to improved biosensors and biocatalysts. view of this background, Berend Snijder, support physicians in planning therapies

130 Life Sciences 131 for their patients that achieve the highest in the laboratory, at high resolution, and medical practice. The foundation of Allcyte possible response rates. Moreover, the to make inferences as to potential clinical offers the opportunity to prepare a promising company wants to put pharmaceutical activity. technology with clinical and commercial companies in the position to better potential for the market. understand which molecules are most Getting ready for the market likely to be effective in which groups of The proof-of-concept studies carried patients. out by the CeMM and the Medical University of Vienna have demonstrated New microscopy technique that pharmacoscopy is a very promising Allcyte GmbH To achieve its goals, Allcyte uses technique for planning the personalised Lazarettgasse 14, AKT BT 25.3, A-1090 Vienna pharmacoscopy, a microscopy technique treatment of cancer patients. However, much developed at the CeMM in Vienna, to research and development work – which Founded in 2017 Management: Nikolaus Krall directly examine response to drugs ex vivo cannot be funded by academic institutions – in relevant tissue samples of patients, i.e. is needed before it can be used in routine www.allcyte.com

132 Life Sciences 133 BlueSky Vaccines www.blueskyvaccines.com

BlueSky Vaccines is developing a Viennese startup BlueSky Vaccines, a important immunomodulators such as novel cancer vaccine that offers biotech company specialising in this area, is interferon and other cytokines. This triggers the potential to fight all types of developing an innovative cancer vaccine that different immune responses of the body such stimulates the body’s immune defences in a as dendritic cells, cytotoxic T-cells, killer cells, cancers. The vaccine stimulates novel way. macrophages and regulatory T-cells and the body’s immune defences to thus ensures an effective cancer therapy. achieve a unique effect. Broad effect The broad “anti-cancer cell front” has the While currently used immunotherapy potential to destroy both the primary tumour medicines (antibody/checkpoint inhibitors and the metastases. BlueSky Vaccines GmbH and modified immune cells such as CAR-T) Mariahilfer Straße 101/1/21, A-1060 Vienna Studies have shown that immunotherapy, target a specific point of the immune Therapy against papilloma viruses i.e. fighting cancer by activating the system, BlueSky’s vaccine is designed to The vaccine will first be tested against Founded in 2014 Management: Thomas Muster, Michael Tscheppe body’s immune system, is a pioneering simultaneously activate different levels of the cancers induced by human papilloma viruses approach in the treatment of cancer. The body’s immune system by initially stimulating (pharyngeal cancer, cervical carcinoma and www.blueskyvaccines.com

134 Life Sciences 135 ImageBiopsy Lab https://imagebiopsylab.com

other types of gynaecological cancers). clinical trial phase I in humans. Subsequent The Viennese company is the disease is often diagnosed late and with For this purpose, various clinically tested plans include out-licensing the technology developing novel software varying accuracy, therapies are frequently antigens (E6, E7) of the human papilloma to pharma partners, a trade sale or going solutions for analysing X rays delayed and unspecific, which causes pain virus were inserted into the vaccine to boost public. for the affected patients and high costs for its ability to specifically fight these cancers. to improve the diagnosis of the health care system. osteoarthritis, the most frequent First studies are under way degenerative joint disease Deep learning methods Biotech experts with many years of research worldwide. Based on deep learning approaches, the experience founded BlueSky Vaccines at the ImageBiopsy solution analyses X-rays in a end of 2014. The company currently has ten standardised and objective manner within employees and uses the laboratories at the a few seconds. The software is armed with University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. In The subjective assessment of digital X-rays a learning algorithm trained on a database the second half of 2018, BlueSky Vaccines by specialists has been the standard method comprising 150,000 radiological images. It will set an important milestone by running for diagnosing osteoarthritis for decades. As knows what a healthy knee looks like and

136 Life Sciences 137 can automatically identify different stages of the disease with the help of these images. The system marks abnormalities and suggests a diagnosis. Moreover, it provides a very detailed and structured report, which not only eases the burden on physicians but also improves patient care. ImageBiopsy Lab plans to obtain Medical Devices Act certification by the end of this year. IB Lab GmbH Hietzinger Hauptstraße 50/10, A-1130 Vienna Risk assessment for osteoarthritis patients Founded in 2016 Management: Richard Ljuhar The current research of founders Davul and Richard Ljuhar goes beyond the https://imagebiopsylab.com

138 Life Sciences 139 MyeloPro www.myelopro.com

mere evaluation of radiological images. estimated to exceed 100 million by 2040. MyeloPro’s Viennese research of medicines in this area have been made ImageBiopsy Lab develops models for The self-learning software for analysing team is developing an in Vienna. There is excellent collaboration predicting the risk of getting osteoarthritis. radiological images developed by immunotherapy for treating between basic researchers (CeMM – In studies, they were able to forecast with ImageBiopsy Lab is designed to meet the Research Center for Molecular Medicine an accuracy of 80% whether the knee joints rising demand. myeloproliferative neoplasms, of the Austrian Academy of Sciences) and of patients would significantly deteriorate i.e. relatively rare malignant clinical researchers (Medical University of within the next four years. These models are blood diseases. Vienna). A CeMM team headed by Robert already used in clinical studies. Kralovics discovered that mutated calreticulin (CALR) constitutes a promising target for Osteoarthritis is a global problem immunotherapy as MPNs treatment. The In Europe, 70 million people currently Vienna is Europe’s hub for research on rare biotech startup MyeloPro Diagnostics suffer from osteoarthritis. In view of the types of leukaemia, i.e. myeloproliferative and Research was founded to ensure the demographic change, this number is neoplasms (MPNs). Many of the most commercial development of a therapy important discoveries and new applications against these rare diseases. The team’s

140 Life Sciences 141 decision was based on the maxim: “If we and have an increased risk of leukaemic Looking for a pharma partner don’t do it, nobody else will.” Diseases transformation. MyeloPro expects to start clinical affecting only small groups of patients are development of CALR therapeutics within the of little interest to large pharmaceutical Successful mutations next three years. The researchers are looking companies. Pilot studies in animals using CALR-targeted for a partner in the pharma industry for monoclonal antibodies have shown that phase III of the clinical tests and marketing. Severe diseases it is possible to eliminate mutated CALR MyeloPro wants to remain an R&D incubator MPNs are relatively rare malignant blood stem cells and to normalise the number that develops further ideas and concepts diseases. In Austria, a few thousand people of thrombocytes. MyeloPro has already with a pronounced focus on haematological MyeloPro Diagnostics and Research GmbH are afflicted. MPNs have serious health succeeded in manufacturing a series of oncology. Lazarettgasse 14, BT 25.3, A-1090 Vienna consequences for patients as the disease monoclonal antibodies and antibody-based often profoundly impacts on their morbidity agents to target the mutated CALR. These Founded in 2015 Management: Oleh Zagrijtschuk and mortality. MPNs patients frequently research findings constitute the basis for the suffer from thromboses and bleedings first potential therapies against MPNs. www.myelopro.com

142 Life Sciences 143 OxAG https://oxfordantibioticgroup.com

OxAG, a startup located has accepted this challenge: the Tulln- USA it is impossible for Central European in Tulln, is developing new based pharma development company companies to see such a project through to antibiotic therapies against works on new antibiotic therapies against the end. The development of active agents © Foto Wilke multiresistant pathogens and takes them requires significant investments and can only multiresistant pathogens. through all trial phases to medical usage. be financed at the industrial level. As the company, headed by biomedical expert and biologist Alexander Pretsch, New development approach develops a new class of antibiotics, it OxAG’s quest for antibiotic agents is based Bacteria are “survivalists”. Under certain is very much in the spotlight of pharma on a new approach. Using the Logibiotic Oxford Antibiotic Group GmbH Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24/ground floor, A-3430 Tulln circumstances they develop resistance development. method, natural products are reduced to the medication given for infections and to their active targets and subsequently Founded in 2017 thus become (multi)resistant pathogens, Besides Tulln, OxAG’s second leg designed and manufactured in line with Management: Alexander Pretsch, Miroslav Genov, Dagmar Pretsch, Jutta Roth which have steadily spread in the past in eponymous Oxford is crucial for standard criteria of medicinal chemistry. years. The Oxford Antibiotic Group (OxAG) capitalisation: without links to the UK or In this project, OxAG closely collaborates https://oxfordantibioticgroup.com

144 Life Sciences 145 with the Department of Chemistry in Oxford their interest in projects in the preclinical and has in-licensed two patents for further phase and in phase I by contracts and development. payments. This is in line with the plans of the founding team to position the company Exit 2023 for a trade sale or going public (IPO) by OxAG is a typical biotech and pharma 2023. development company that plans to run another series A/B, amounting to € 12 million, after the two-year preclinical seed phase to take a test candidate to clinical phase IIa. This A/B series is ready to be run in cooperation with a large pharmaceutical company as such corporations currently tend to safeguard

146 Life Sciences 147 aws Seedfinancing Projects supported in 2017 Projects

Abacus PreSeed IKT 16 Easelink Seedfinancing Physical Sciences 81

Allcyte Seedfinancing Life Sciences 131 ENPULSION Seedfinancing Physical Sciences 85

BHS Technologies PreSeed Life Sciences 106 FARMDOK Seedfinancing IKT 48

BlueSky Vaccines Seedfinancing Life Sciences 134 Greenhive PreSeed IKT 20

CCORE PreSeed Life Sciences 110 ImageBiopsy Lab Seedfinancing Life Sciences 137

Dimetor Seedfinancing IKT 44 Invenium PreSeed IKT 24

150 151 meemo-tec PreSeed Life Sciences 113 ONDEWO PreSeed IKT 28

MITS PreSeed Life Sciences 117 OxAG Seedfinancing Life Sciences 144

myClubs Seedfinancing IKT 52 Perception Park Seedfinancing Physical Sciences 89

MyeloPro Seedfinancing Life Sciences 141 PHS PreSeed Physical Sciences 70

NP Life Science Technologies PreSeed Life Sciences 121 Prewave PreSeed IKT 32

Ocean Maps Seedfinancing IKT 56 PrintStones PreSeed Physical Sciences 74

152 153 proactivaudio PreSeed IKT 36 Valanx Biotech PreSeed Life Sciences 128

Rebeat Seedfinancing Physical Sciences 93 Waytation Seedfinancing IKT 60

SES PreSeed Physical Sciences 77 WUGGL Seedfinancing IKT 64

Solabolic Seedfinancing Physical Sciences 98

subdron PreSeed IKT 40

UriSalt PreSeed Life Sciences 124

154 155 Publisher Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH Walcherstraße 11A, A-1020 Vienna

Editor Karl Biedermann

Texts of company portraits Josef Ruhaltinger

Copy editing Birgit Trinker

Translation Gertrude Maurer Sylvia Trnka

Graphic design Dunja Pinta (freigeist.at)

Photos and other visuals were provided by the companies portrayed.

Although this booklet was compiled with due care and attention, errors and omissions cannot be entirely excluded. The publisher shall not be liable for the correctness and completeness of the information contained in this publication. Boosting key technologies

On behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology, Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws) helps high-tech companies locate and set up business in Austria. A special focus is on supporting technological areas with high growth potential and innovative strength such as life sciences, information and communication technology, and physical sciences.

For more information on aws Seedfinancing programmes phone: +43 1 501 75-0 e-mail: [email protected] www.aws.at/seedfinancing