The automotive industry is a major economic driver in Austria. Research and a solid, application-oriented education are key to success in remaining competitive with other locations. It is therefore a particular priority of the Automotive Industry Association to honor, through the Automotive Industry Association Anniversary Foundation, outstanding master’s theses and doctoral dissertations with special relevance to the Austrian automotive industry each year. The awards ceremony took place on July 3, 2026, in the ballroom of the Vienna University of Technology.

A total of twelve 2025 award recipients from TU Wien, Graz University of Technology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, and the Montanuniversität Leoben were honored. In addition, a special prize from the Austrian Automotive Industry Association was awarded.

From TU Wien, the dissertations by Florian Kleissner, René Lenz, and Agnes Poks, as well as the master’s thesis by Anna-Sophie Kräftner, were honored. The awards were presented by Andreas Gaggl, Managing Director of the Austrian Automotive Industry Association. TU Wien Rector Jens Schneider delivered the opening and closing remarks. Members of the TUW Orchestra provided musical accompaniment.

The TU Wien Award Recipients

Dr. Florian Kleissner studied mechanical engineering at TU Wien and completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors. Since 2022, he has been a project assistant at the Institute for Vehicle Drives and Automotive Engineering, where he completed his dissertation with honors in 2025. His dissertation, “Potential of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in a Compression Ignition Aviation Engine Utilizing Cylinder-Pressure-based Combustion Control,” examines the use of sustainable aviation fuels in reciprocating-piston aircraft engines. The work makes an important contribution to the safe use of synthetic and biogenic fuels and thus supports the transition to a more climate-friendly aviation industry.

Dr. René Lenz completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Stuttgart and subsequently earned his master’s degree in Automation and Control Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology with honors. He wrote his dissertation at the Institute of Automation and Control Engineering and completed it in 2024. In his thesis, “Optimal Control with Radial Force Compensation for Multiphase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines under Multiple Open-Circuit Faults,” he developed control methods for fault-tolerant electric drives. These results will significantly enhance the safety and reliability of future steer-by-wire systems in the automotive sector.

Dr. Agnes Poks has training as an industrial clerk and electronics technician, as well as degrees in electrical engineering from the universities of Heilbronn and Darmstadt. After many years working in development at an electric motor manufacturer, she completed her doctoral studies at the Vienna University of Technology. Her dissertation, “Predictive Control Concepts for Energy-efficient Electric Vehicles,” integrates the control of electric delivery vehicles with that of their refrigeration units. This allows for the holistic optimization of energy consumption and battery life while taking driving and transport conditions into account.

Special Award to Anna-Sophie Kräftner

Anna-Sophie Kräftner was awarded the Special Prize by the Austrian Automotive Industry Association for her master’s thesis, “Innovation Doctrine at the Intersection of Technological Openness and Technological Clarity: The Influence of European Innovation Policy on the Strategic Technology Orientation of Companies, Using the Automotive Industry as an Example.” After studying at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, she completed an Executive MBA in Strategic Management and Technology at the Vienna University of Technology while working full-time. Her thesis analyzes how European innovation policy influences the strategic technology orientation of companies in the automotive industry and compares technology-open innovation strategies with technology-clear ones.