Women's Prize for Digitization and Innovation" initiated by ORF and Infineon Austria was awarded

At the inaugural "Women's Prize for Digitization and Innovation", initiated by Infineon Technologies Austria and ORF and supported by media partner APA, young women were honored for their outstanding talent in areas of technology and science on Monday, June 27, 2022.

The first prize, endowed with EUR 10,000, was awarded to Dipl.-Ing.in Carina Lehmal. Her master's thesis "Investigation and validation of the stability of photovoltaic integration into an industrial MV grid based on PHIL tests" addresses the question of how innovative methods can be used to successfully integrate renewable energy sources into the power grid in a stable manner.

Second place (EUR 5,000) went to Dr.in Daniela Kaufmann. Her dissertation "Formal Verification of Multipliers with Computer Algebra" developed a computer algebra-based method for automated verification of the correctness of arithmetic circuits in processors.

Third place (EUR 2,500) went to Dipl.-Ing.in Johanna Bartlechner. Her diploma thesis "Design of a nonlinear multivariable model-based control strategy for a recombinant protein production process in C. glutamicum" deals with the design of a control strategy for a project on the stable and environmentally friendly use of waste streams from the pulp industry as a medium in the microbial production of valuable substances.

The additional prize for special attention to the requirements of "Tech for Green" (EUR 2,500) was awarded to Dr.in rer nat., BSc, MSc Andrea Hochegger. Which bio-based materials can be used to make paper and cardboard packaging stable and safe against fat, water, oxygen, and various contaminants, and how can these properties be measured? This is the subject of the dissertation "Packaging relevant aspects of food safety - Analytical methods for characterization of food and food contact materials".

Dipl.-Ing.in Carina Lehmal (1st prize): "It is great that this award offers us young female technicians a forum to present our ideas and projects in the field of digitalization and innovation to a broad public. My colleagues and I are extremely grateful to ORF, Infineon and APA for this wonderful opportunity. And I am, of course, particularly pleased that the experts on the advisory board and the jury found my work in particular so interesting that I was awarded first prize."

Federal Minister for the EU and the Constitution, Mag.a Karoline Edtstadler: "It is always a good day when the outstanding scientific achievements of women can be honored and brought before the curtain. The award winners are role models and inspiration for many young women, especially in the MINT field, where too few women are still visible."

Dipl.-Ing.in Dr.in Sabine Herlitschka, MBA, CEO Infineon Technologies Austria: "I am very pleased that the first award of the Women's Promotion Prize has succeeded in arousing the interest of so many women. With their commitment to technology and the natural sciences, they are important future shapers for central issues of our time as well as figureheads for more women in technology industries. By making their achievements and work in a wide range of application areas visible, we are once again making a contribution to inspiring more young female talent to pursue technical training and careers. Congratulations to the award winners and many thanks to all for their participation."

ORF Director General Mag. Roland Weißmann: "I am very pleased that ORF, together with its partners Infineon and APA, is able to demonstrate the great potential that young women bring to technical professions as part of this initiative. We have thus succeeded in making them and their innovative ideas more present in public and in giving their great projects a platform. My warmest congratulations to the award winners."

Dr. Harald Kräuter, ORF Director of Technology and Digitization: "I extend my warmest congratulations to the award winners. They have demonstrated in an impressive way that women are playing a major role in shaping the future of the technology, digitization and innovation industry. And Infineon, APA and ORF have achieved their goal of making women and their outstanding skills in technical professions visible with this award, as confirmed by the great response and nearly 70 submissions."

Dr. Clemens Pig, Chairman of the Management Board Austria Presse Agentur: "I am very pleased with the high number, quality and creativity of the submissions to the Women's Award for Digitization and Innovation. Digital transformation is an exciting journey. The commitment and the award-winning work contribute in the best sense to actively shaping this journey. On behalf of APA, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the award winners."

Closing ceremony and award ceremony

At the closing event, hosted by Ute Pichler (ORF Carinthia) at the ORF Media Campus in Vienna, six finalists nominated by an advisory board presented their entries to a prominent jury of experts, who then selected the winners.

The award ceremony took place immediately afterwards. The awards were presented by Federal Minister Mag.a Karoline Edtstadler (representing Federal Minister MMag.a Dr.in Susanne Raab), Dipl.- Ing.in Dr.in Sabine Raab. Ing.in Dr.in Sabine Herlitschka, MBA (CEO Infineon Technologies Austria), Dr. Harald Kräuter (ORF Director of Technology and Digitization), Dr. Clemens Pig (Chairman of the Management Board Austria Presse Agentur) and Section Head Mag. Florian Frauscher, MLS (representing Federal Minister Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Kocher).

In video messages, the patrons, Mag.a Doris Schmidauer, consultant and motivator, Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler, BA, Federal Minister MMag.a Dr.in Susanne Raab and Federal Minister a.D. Dr.in Margarete Schramböck as well as patron Governor Dr. Peter Kaiser also addressed the participants of the event.

About the "Women's Prize for Digitization and Innovation

The prize, which was offered for the first time this year by Infineon Austria and ORF and with the support of media partner APA on the initiative of Thomas Prantner (authorized signatory in the ORF Directorate for Technology and Digitization), aims to motivate young female talents to deal with technical issues related to digitization and innovation as part of their education, to promote their entry into technical professions and to get more young women excited about technology overall.

Almost 70 young women submitted their departmental, bachelor's, master's or dissertation theses on the topics of information and communication technologies, semiconductor and nanotechnologies, or engineering and natural sciences.

Further information as well as video messages from the patrons are available at extra.ORF.at.

Infineon Technologies Austria AG is a group subsidiary of Infineon Technologies AG, a world-leading provider of semiconductor solutions that make life easier, safer and greener. Microelectronics from Infineon reduce the energy consumption of consumer electronics, domestic appliances and industrial facilities. They make a major contribution to the convenience, security and sustainability of vehicles, and enable secure transactions in the Internet of Things.

Infineon Austria pools competencies for research and development, production as well as global business responsibility. The head office is in Villach, with further branches in Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Vienna. With 4,820 employees from 73 countries (including 2,100 in research and development), in the financial year 2021 (ending in September) the company achieved a turnover of € 3.9 billion. With a research expenditure of 516 million euros, Infineon Austria is one of the strongest research companies in Austria.