Incus wins B&C Houska Prize in SME Research & Development category
May 1, 2024
Incus GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria, has been awarded the B&C-Gruppe’s Houska Prize for the Research & Development in SMEs category, accompanied by a financial grant of €150,000 for Dr Gerald Mitteramskogler’s project ‘LMM: Metal 3D Printing with Light.’ In front of an audience of around 400 attendees from business and science, the B&C Private Foundation honoured the winners across three categories University Research, Non-University Research and Research & Development in SMEs.
The 19th Houska Prize ceremony began with the Houska Talk with AI expert and lawyer Sandra Wachter from the University of Oxford on the topic ‘How intelligent is artificial intelligence?’. Further, in cooperation with BG/BRG Klosterneuburg, the Mariella Schurz Prize was awarded in memory of the long-time Secretary General of the B&C Private Foundation.
“Research and innovation are of crucial importance for overcoming numerous current and future challenges and for strengthening the business location. A thriving research landscape and recognition of the people behind the scientific breakthroughs are essential. The B&C Private Foundation is committed to this with the Houska Prize,” shared Erich Hampel, Chairman of the B&C Private Foundation. “I congratulate the award winners and all other nominees. They embody excellent research and innovative strength in our country.”
Previously, the production of intricate metal components using Additive Manufacturing often required the use of support structures, subsequent assembly of individual parts, and complex post-processing to achieve desired quality standards. The Lithography-based Metal Manufacturing (LMM), a metal Additive Manufacturing method developed by Gerald Mitteramskogler and his team, is centred on the principle of stereolithography and uses photopolymerisation to build parts in a layerwise process via exposure with light. The additively manufactured components may feature intricate detailing and surface quality, even with internal structures such as cavities and undercuts.
Mitteramskogler shared, “It is a great honour for us to receive this award that serves as a recognition of Incus’ dedication to innovation in the Austrian industry. My congratulations go out to the entire team for their outstanding achievement!”