Innovation drives social change and growth - and it is now more important than ever before. In an age of diverse challenges ranging from the climate change to inflation, we need new ideas to facilitate socially acceptable transitions within society. JKU researchers tackle these kinds of challenges daily and with great success: our faculty members’ countless research projects, studies, and scientific discoveries are paving the way to discover new technologies, innovative medical treatments, and a more in-depth understanding of our globalized world and how we interact with one another.

As part of a cross-faculty event, the JKU recently presented six junior researchers with the 2024 Faculty Innovation Award in recognition of their unwavering commitment to scholarly research, as well as to acknowledge their important contributions to fostering a successful and prosperous society.

JKU Rector Prof. Dr. Stefan Koch points out: "Breaking new ground takes courage, perseverance, and innovative drive. Given the JKU’s commitment to fostering and nurturing junior researchers, the Innovation Award aims to encourage our junior researchers in this respect. Over the past decades, the JKU has been proud to welcome many outstanding junior researchers and scholars. Today, we presented awards to young, motivated researchers across a wide range of disciplines and research areas who will continue in this direction.”

Alberta Bonanni, JKU Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs, remarked, “When it comes scientific advancements, we don’t always have the foresight to recognize what will be progressive in the future, making it even more important to acknowledge and pay tribute to outstanding contributions, including base-knowledge research. The selected award-winning projects are just a fraction of the outstanding research that our junior researchers are conducting here at the JKU and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them!"

Working Together with the Hochschulfonds
A jury of experts reviewed over 60 submissions, selecting the winning research projects, essays, or dissertations. As part of a festive ceremony at the JKU medLOFT, the JKU faculties - represented by the respective deans, and university management - celebrated the award winners. Organized by the four JKU dean's offices, the Innovation Award was funded by the Linz Hochschulfonds, an organization that supports academic faculty members at the JKU.

The Award Winners

The Faculty of Medicine
OÄ Dr. scient. med. Dr. med. univ. Monika Ettinger-Krautgartner, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, for her paper titled “Th17-Associated Cytokines IL-17 and IL-23 in Inflamed Skin of Darier Disease Patients as Potential Therapeutic Targets”

Faculty of Law
MMag. Dr. Ranjana Andrea Achleitner, Institute for European Law, for her essay titled „Das Durchsetzungsregime im Digital Markets Act: Private Enforcement unerwünscht?”
Mag. Dr. Anna Obereder, MBA; Institute for Constitutional Law and Political Science, for her essay titled „Was sind und weshalb braucht es Feststellungsbescheide?”

Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics & Business
Dr. Abida Malik, BA MA, Institute of Business and Vocational Education, for her publication titled “Can Tacit Know-How be Acquired via Testimony?”
Dr. Manuel Mühlburger, MSc, Institute for Business Informatics - Information Engineering, for his publication titled “Towards a Context Sensitive Conceptualisation of Digital Transformation

Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences
Dr. Paul Strasser, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, for his dissertation titled “Biodegradable Biomedical Polymers from Main-Group Elements”