Patents secure usage and exploitation rights for a period of 20 years and allow for planning security. JOANNEUM RESEARCH's innovative strength is evident not only in the number of property rights it holds, but above all in their diversity and breadth of application.
Innovations from Styria
One of the most successful innovations is open-flow microperfusion (OFM). This technology makes it possible to measure active substances directly in living tissue. It is used in particular in personalised medicine and clinical trials. Three patent families secure key components of this technology. OFM is used, for example, in the evaluation of drugs. The added value for patients: therapies can be better tailored to their needs.
JOANNEUM RESEARCH is at the forefront with its patent-pending invention for quantum computing as part of the OptoQuant project: together with the University of Innsbruck and Infineon, researchers have captured individual ions in electromagnetic traps and manipulated them with laser light to control their quantum states. Optical waveguides were integrated directly into the ion traps – for example, by femtosecond laser processing of quartz glass – so that the laser beams can be coupled in more precisely and stably. This novel combination of micro-optics and quantum technology is expected to significantly increase the number of entangled qubits, thus representing an important step towards scalable quantum processors.
Sustainable inventions
The development of environmentally friendly materials is another focus of research. With the patent for the SupreSil invention, a process for extending the pot life of silicones was developed, which represents a significant advantage for applications in construction, electronics and medical technology.
Even more focused on sustainability is the patent for bio-based embossing lacquers, which do not use fossil raw materials and are used in the packaging and printing industries, for example. Both developments show how technological innovation and resource conservation can go hand in hand.
Inventions in the field of communication technologies
Together with Graz University of Technology, a team from the Space Research Division has developed a method for bandwidth-efficient optical data transmission. Such technologies are particularly important for communication via satellite or in remote areas. One promising area of application is satellite-to-satellite communication, where all energy requirements must be optimised.
In this age of automated systems and smart applications, the combination of light and sensor technology is playing an increasingly important role. Researchers at JOANNEUM RESEARCH have developed a sophisticated solution to this problem: an invention from the Pinkafeld site describes a process for using LEDs not only as a light source, but also as a photosensitive element for detecting and classifying vehicles based on minute changes in the reflected light in the visible spectrum.
Patents worldwide
JOANNEUM RESEARCH's patents protect its inventions in Europe, North America and Asia. The most important target region is Europe – in particular German-speaking countries, France, Great Britain, Scandinavia and the Benelux countries. In addition, patent protection is sought in the USA, Japan, South Korea and, increasingly, India, where necessary. In future, European protection will be strengthened by the new unitary patent, which will enable simplified and more cost-effective protection of inventions.
Whether in medical technology, materials science, sensor technology or communications technology, the inventions of JOANNEUM RESEARCH demonstrate how non-university research builds bridges between science and industry. Close cooperation with industry partners leads to innovations with measurable social and economic benefits. The high patent density, the international nature of the property rights and the thematic breadth of the inventions underline JOANNEUM RESEARCH's role as an important driving force in the Austrian innovation system," affirms Heinz Mayer, Managing Director of JOANNEUM RESEARCH.
To conclude: The most successful invention is AKUT®, the acoustic tunnel monitoring system, which is used as an early warning system in numerous tunnels, not only in Austria. This system uses artificial intelligence and smart microphones to detect critical events in less than 1 second.