(Vienna, 20 August 2026) MedUni Vienna has enjoyed particular success with the ‘aws Proof of Concept’ funding programme: a total of ten potential innovations from medical research are currently being further developed with the programme’s support. Four projects were launched as early as 2025, whilst six further projects were newly approved in 2026. The aim is to take promising inventions a decisive step closer to concrete medical application through prototypes, feasibility studies and validation.
The Proof of Concept programme run by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) operates at a crucial interface between research and application. It supports Austrian universities and research institutions in demonstrating the technical feasibility of research and development results that are, in principle patentable, and in identifying potential areas of application.
For MedUni Vienna, the programme is a key tool for the targeted further development of research findings at an early stage. It is precisely at this stage that the funds to develop a robust prototype from an invention are often lacking. The funding provides an important first step in this development process and can thus also form the basis for further funding, collaborations with industry partners, licensing or spin-offs.
Ten projects from various fields of medicine
The projects currently receiving funding demonstrate the breadth of innovation at MedUni Vienna – ranging from new surgical instruments and implants, through imaging and spectroscopic techniques, to new active substances and applications of artificial intelligence.
Four projects have been running since 2025:
Temporary, self-resorbable and self-retaining epicardial pacemaker leads for post-operative stimulation following cardiac surgery – David Santer, Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery
Raman Spectroscopy for Quantitative Evaluation of Nerves – Aida Naghilou, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
PathBreaker – targeted inhibition of fibrotic signalling pathways – Philipp Hohensinner and Patrick Haider, Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery
Capsule-based confocal endomicroscope with fibre optics – Qian Li, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
In 2026, six further successful funding applications were added:
Novel active substances for therapeutic use in cancer – Georg Holzmann, Center for Cancer Research
Intracardiac Solutions – development of a minimally invasive cutting tool for endovascular interventricular septal resection – Alexander Chaplygin, Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Aortic Surgery
AutoCAN – a semi-automated solution for cannulation of blood vessels in cardiovascular surgery – Karl Schneider, Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery
MockLoop – mobile cardiovascular simulator – Thomas Schlöglhofer, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
MORPHEDRON – novel spatial biomorphic artificial intelligence – László Papp, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
CardEvo – in vivo validation of resorbable cardiovascular implants with an antimicrobial coating – Manfred Bammer, Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery
These ten ongoing projects underscore the importance of professional Technology Transfer at MedUni Vienna: scientific findings should not end with publication, but should be systematically developed – where there is relevant application potential – into new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, medical devices and other innovations.