INNOVATIONaward 2026: FH Upper Austria and the FH Support Association Wels Honor Innovative Master’s Theses

The domestic economy benefits from innovative technical products and solutions

On March 25, 2026, fifteen graduates and one research assistant from the FH Upper Austria Wels Campus were honored with the “INNOVATIONaward FH Wels 2026” at the Minoritenkloster. Together with the School of Engineering, the FH Support Association Wels presented the award for the 23rd time, recognizing the school's most outstanding master’s theses.

For the 23rd year in a row, the INNOVATIONaward FH Wels showcases the most innovative master’s theses from the Wels Campus—highlighting to the public just how exciting a technical or science-based degree can be.

The awards were presented by Dr. Clemens Malina-Altzinger, Chair of the FH Support Association Wels; Mag. Manuel Molnar, Executive Board Director of Sparkasse Upper Austria; Dr. Joachim Haindl-Grutsch from the Federation of Austrian Industries (Upper Austria); and FH‑Prof. Dr. Roman Froschauer, Dean of Wels Campus.
The keynote speech was delivered by Federal Minister Dr. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer on the topic “Universities of Applied Sciences as drivers of key technologies, innovation, and the economy.”

Markus Achleitner, Regional Minister for Economic Affairs and Research, congratulated the winners:
“Technical innovation is the key to the future of our economy and industry. It takes both expertise and creativity—qualities that can be found in abundance at the Wels Campus of FH Upper Austria. Through strong collaboration between science and business, we create an environment where new ideas can grow and quickly be put into practice. This ensures our region remains competitive and continues to rank among the leading economic hubs internationally.”

The submitted master’s theses were evaluated in five categories: “Automation & Mechatronics,” “Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science,” “Construction & Clean Energy,” “Innovation, Design & Business,” and “Environment & Food.”
A distinguished jury assessed the projects based on scientific merit, real-world relevance, and innovative strength.

Award winners:

• Timo Köllensperger (Ansfelden) won 1st place in Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and also received the Audience Award for a proof of concept for a resource-efficient production process for composite hollow structures—without using disposable consumables.
• Doris Bernroider (Wels) took 1st place in Automation & Mechatronics with a controlled braking module for stranding machines, enabling fully automated and highly precise steel cable production for the first time.
• Simone Redl (Ohlsdorf) won the Innovation, Design & Business category with her research on using synthetic users in innovation processes and the question of how far AI can replace human empathy.
• Eva Maria Mair (Pötting) placed 1st in Environment & Food for establishing a new method to characterize adipose-derived cells, aimed at improving cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine.
• In Construction & Clean Energy, Majid Asadi (Linz) won for developing a digital twin for hybrid energy systems, optimizing their efficiency before real-world implementation.

Sophia Keller (Mistelbach near Wels) was named Research Assistant of the Year for developing a fully automated workflow to generate AI training data accelerating the design of lightweight components.

€14,000 in prize money awarded
The FH Support Association Wels funded the generous awards for the 15 master’s theses and the research assistant.
Category winners received €1,500, while second and third place each received €500.

Dr. Clemens Malina-Altzinger, Chair of the FH Support Association Wels, explained:
“The Support Association builds a bridge between innovative companies and the students and graduates of the FH Upper Austria Campus Wels. Prosperity, growth, and international competitiveness depend directly on research and innovation. Our graduates contribute fresh perspectives, creative ideas, and up‑to‑date technological expertise based on a research-led education—equipping them to tackle future challenges with confidence.”

Strong support from industry and the FH Support Association Wels
Manuel Molnar, CSO of Sparkasse Upper Austria, emphasized:
“The INNOVATIONaward shows every year how dedicated young people are to developing forward-looking solutions. We proudly support this, because innovation is essential for a competitive economy.”

FH OÖ President Dr. Michael Rabl added:
“Our university stands for excellent education in engineering and science. Through research-led teaching, we continuously evolve our programs and empower students to create tomorrow’s innovations. With the INNOVATIONaward, we bring student ideas to the stage—showing the next generation how they can shape the future and inspiring them to pursue technical studies.”

Dean FH‑Prof. Dr. Roman Froschauer highlighted the broader importance:
“Across Austria—and also here in Upper Austria—there is a shortage of skilled professionals in technical fields. With the INNOVATIONaward, we show the public just how diverse and exciting technical topics are. Only by inspiring young people in areas like automation, robotics, AI, renewable energy, or future food solutions can we secure the talent our innovative companies need to succeed as the economy rebounds.”

His special thanks went to the event’s main sponsors: FH Support Association Wels and Sparkasse Upper Austria.

AWARD WINNERS – INNOVATIONaward FH Wels 2026

Category: Automation & Mechatronics

1. DI Doris Bernroider, BSc, Wels
   Degree program: Robotic Systems Engineering
   Master’s thesis: System Analysis and Development of Controlled Braking Modules for a Stranding Machine
2. DI Samuel Hochedlinger, BSc, Timelkam
   Degree program: Automation Engineering
   Master’s thesis: Targeted Influence of Seam Geometry in Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Using Simulation
3. DI Johannes Reinwein, BSc, Hausleiten
   Degree program: Automation Engineering
   Master’s thesis: Development of Camera-Based Inspection Systems with Artificial Intelligence for Silicone Injection-Molded Parts

Category: Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

1. DI Timo Köllensperger, BSc, Ansfelden
   Degree program: Lightweight Construction and Composite Materials
   Master’s thesis: Proof of Concept for a Novel Production Process for Composite Hollow Structures
2. DI Manuel Schachinger, BSc, Weißkirchen an der Traun
   Degree program: Materials Science and Manufacturing Technology
   Master’s thesis: Optimization of DLC Coatings for Use in Renewable Energy Applications
3. DI Dominic Klammer, BSc, Ried im Traunkreis
   Degree program: Materials Science and Manufacturing Technology
   Master’s thesis: Integration of Force Monitoring in Extrusion-Based FFF 3D Printing

Category: Construction & Clean Energy

1. Majid Asadi, MSc, Linz
   Degree program: Sustainable Energy Systems
   Master’s thesis: Dynamic Simulation and Validation of Hybrid Energy Systems: A Case Study Approach Using MATLAB/Simulink
2. Arsen Askar, MSc, Linz
   Degree program: Sustainable Energy Systems
   Master’s thesis: Implementation of Aggregated Distribution System Models and Application for Designing Efficient Topology and Control
3. Viktor Raul Rodriguez Gomez, MSc, Spain
   Degree program: Sustainable Energy Systems
   Master’s thesis: Data Analysis Tools for Optimizing Energy Procurement: A Comparative Study of the Mexican and Spanish Markets

Category: Innovation, Design & Business

1. Simone Redl, BSc MSc, Ohlsdorf
   Degree program: Innovation and Product Management
   Master’s thesis: Artificial Intelligence in User-Centered Innovation Processes: The Influence of Synthetic Users on Empathic Understanding and Idea Generation
2. DI Mario Pisslinger, BSc, Aigen-Schlägl
   Degree program: Mechatronics & Business
   Master’s thesis: Standardized Requirements Engineering in the Railway Construction Machinery Sector: Development of a Practice-Oriented Guideline
3. DI David Kristl, BSc, St. Peter am Wimberg
   Degree program: Mechatronics & Business
   Master’s thesis: A Systematic Approach to Value Optimization in Software

Category: Environment & Food

1. Eva Maria Mair, BSc MSc, Pötting
   Degree program: Bio- and Environmental Engineering
   Master’s thesis: Cell-Type Characterization of Freshly Mechanically Isolated SVF
2. Julia Kirchsteiger, BSc MSc, Salzburg
   Degree program: Food Technology and Nutrition
   Master’s thesis: Determining the Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts for Use in Food and Animal Feed
3. Anna Katzlberger, BSc MSc, Linz
   Degree program: Bio- and Environmental Engineering
   Master’s thesis: Three-Dimensional Modeling of Excavation Pits and Embankments Using Drone Imagery and Calculation of Excavated/Deposited Volumes

Research Assistant of the Year

Sophia Keller, BSc, Mistelbach near Wels
Research project: Automated Generation of Training Data for Surrogate Models

(AI-generated content)