Houska Prize 2020: Center for Secure Energy Informatics nominated

A research project of the Center for Secure Energy Informatics is nominated for the renowned Houska Prize. © Gregor Hofbauer

A total of 500,000 euros will be awarded by the B&C Private Foundation for top research from Austria. Among the nominees for Austria’s largest private research award is a research project of the Centre for Secure Energy Informatics (CSE) at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, under the direction of Dominik Engel.

This year, the B&C Private Foundation is awarding the coveted research award for the 15th time. In a two-stage process, top-class, internationally recognised experts nominated five research projects each in the categories “University Research” and “Research & Development in SMEs” for the Houska Prize 2020, which is endowed with 500,000 euros. The winners will be presented at a festive gala in Vienna.

CSE nominated in the category “University Research

Security and data protection of power grids are the central focus of the project “Secure Privacy- Aware-IT-Architectures for Future Energy Systems”. The challenge here is to harmonize data protection and IT security with the functional requirements of digital energy systems. Until now, this has not been possible with conventional IT systems. The team of the Center for Secure Energy Informatics under the direction of FH Prof. Priv.- Doz. DI Mag. Dr. Dominik Engel at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has developed a completely new, holistic and systemic view of all interactions between suppliers, consumers and society. The findings of the in-depth analyses in combination with applied cryptography (data encryption) resulted in a software toolbox for industrial partners that enables modern and secure use of smart energy systems. Dominik Engel about the nomination: “We are very pleased about this great confirmation of our research work. The nomination for the award alone, the ‘Oscar of applied research’, is a great honour.”

500,000 euros in prize money for application-oriented research

Submissions for the Houska Prize 2020 come from a wide range of scientific disciplines, such as materials science, medicine, IT and multimedia, as well as applied physics and chemistry. High-ranking advisory boards and a renowned jury selected the five nominated projects per category in a two-stage process. They will be chosen during a anniversary gala on 23 April 2020 in Vienna. [Note: The gala will be postponed due to the Corona virus]

The first-place winners will receive prize money of 150,000 euros each. In addition, a 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded for each category: The runners-up will each receive 60,000 euros, while the third-placed will be determined by the audience during the awards ceremony by means of live voting and will each receive 20,000 euros. The remaining nominees will receive prize money of 10,000 euros each.

About the Houska Prize

The research promotion prize was established in 2005 by the B&C Private Foundation and has since become a fixed point in the domestic research landscape. With this award, the B&C Private Foundation is committed to improving the financial basis for innovation and research in Austria and to sustainably strengthen Austria as a business location. The B&C Private Foundation has been awarding the Houska Prize since 2006. With an endowment of 500,000 euros, it is Austria’s largest prize for applied research. The foundation is committed to fairness of opportunity in education and to the development of the general economic competence of Austrians from childhood onwards.

About the B&C Private Foundation: www.bcprivatstiftung.at