Our colleague Anja Haase recently received a special honour: during a ceremony in the auditorium of the Old University of Graz, she was awarded the Styrian Medal of Honour for Science, Research and the Arts by Governor Mario Kunasek.
With this award, the Province of Styria honours individuals who, through their scientific achievements and dedication, make a significant contribution to the development of society, research and innovation.
Pioneering work in micro- and nanotechnology
As one of the first members of staff at our Weiz site, Anja Haase has helped shape the institute’s development from the very beginning. Over the years, she has become one of the key figures in the field of Nano- and microstructuring developed and played a key role in establishing pioneering fields of research.
Throughout her career, she has made a name for herself in particular as a pioneer in the fields of organic electronics and micro- and nanostructuring on flexible substrates. Through her work, she has made a significant contribution to the transfer of innovative technologies from research into industrial applications.
Innovative diagnostics for the healthcare of tomorrow
In recent years, Anja Haase has attracted particular international attention for her research into so-called “Lab-on-a-Foil“-Systems. These miniaturised diagnostic platforms enable medical analyses to be carried out directly at the point of use and form the basis for rapid, cost-effective and portable testing procedures.
Anja Haase is currently contributing her expertise to, amongst other things, the European research project FORTIFIEDx. Together with our partners at the Montanuniversität Leoben and the Polymer Competence Center Leoben, she is working on innovative microfluidic diagnostic systems that enable blood tests to be carried out directly on site. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative microfluidic diagnostic system that enables blood tests to be carried out directly on patients, without the need for laboratory infrastructure, a power supply or complex equipment.
At the heart of the technology is an innovative test strip with integrated microchannels that automatically processes and analyses minute amounts of capillary blood. The system is currently being validated for the detection of highly infectious and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, syphilis, Ebola and Lassa fever, and is intended for future use in both routine diagnostics and emergency response operations in regions with limited medical infrastructure.
International recognition and role model status
Anja Haase’s academic achievements are reflected in numerous international research collaborations and her successful acquisition of European research grants. She has received several awards in recognition of her work, including the title of ‘Femtech Expert of the Month’ and, together with her team, the Fast Forward Award. Most recently, in February 2026, she received the SPIRIT-Award for Women in the “Science” category under “Applied Research: Senior Scientists”, an award that recognises Styrian female researchers for their outstanding contributions to science.
In addition to her professional expertise, she is also highly regarded for her commitment to supporting young professionals and for setting an example in balancing family and career.
We warmly congratulate Anja Haase on this well-deserved award and are delighted that the Province of Styria has recognised her many years of academic work.
