In 2016, the CTR recorded a very positive result: research output rose to 7.4 million euros, of which 6.7 million euros were generated from project-related orders. This gives a self-financing degree of 91 percent. "With the pace technologies of microsensors and system integration, we have successfully positioned the CTR in Austria and Europe's research landscape," says Werner Scherf CEO of the CTR at the Annual Press Conference for the year 2016. With Intelligent Sensor Technology And system integration, the CTR provides pioneer technologies, which are considered to be a growth engine for the economy.

The town of Villach provides support for 5 years

The City of Villach supports the further growth of the CTR by means of a basic financing, in the form of a shareholder subsidy of EUR 270,000 annually, for the next five years. Mayor Günther Albel: "With this funding we support the growth of the CTR and set the course for a further prosperous development of our city, which can confidently meet the challenges of the future - keyword Industrie 4.0" Villach is one of the few cities that are known as Shareholder - 10 percent share of the CTR - actively participate in research and development with their offensive promotion policy.
Albel: "With its successful research, the CTR team contributes decisively to positioning Villach as a high-tech location. The success - about 50 percent of all patents have their origin in Villach - gives us justice. These are the best prerequisites for actively participating in Silicon Austria "

Highly qualified research team

In the year, the CTR team comprised 60 employees with an academic share of more than 90% from the fields of electrical engineering, mechatronics, technical physics, chemistry, telematics, computer science. In 2016 a total of 35 young scientists at the CTR completed their dissertations, master theses or internships. The research team implemented 56 projects, of which 11 per cent with the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises. The average project volume is 120 kEUR.
"For us, our team of excellent scientists is an important foundation for implementing our research activities for industry in an efficient and goal-oriented manner and for sustainably building competencies," explained Werner Scherf and CTR finance director Simon Grasser.

International visibility

How well the CTR with the research competences is presented is shown by the integration into a multitude of national and international projects. With the COMET-K1 excellence center ASSIC (Austrian Smart Systems Integration Research Center) CTR can carry out strategic research projects with 24 international partners. A total of eight other funded research projects are carried out at the CTR in national and international research programs (FFG, ECSEL, SOLARERA.NET ...) .2016 The CTR participated in ten funding applications and actively participated in the Silicon Austria process of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT).

Application-oriented research

Close collaboration with industry and scientific partners has contributed to a variety of prototypes and solutions that lead to new products and services. Thus, new approaches to fine particle particle sensor technology were realized and new laser technologies for headlights could be demonstrated and the usability of laser ignition for the upcoming European space rocket Ariane demonstrated.
In the 2016 financial year, three patents were filed for the patent application, two were granted. The number of patents developed independently or jointly with research scientists thus increased to more than 80.

Investment in infrastructure

As a new centerpiece of research, the two research areas for microchip research and their system integration are valid. To date, about 2.5 million euros have been invested. In the coming years, with the support of the country and the ERDF fund, an additional € 2 million will be invested in the purchase of the latest equipment for construction and interconnection technologies as well as 3D printing.
With this infrastructure and the existing facilities in the field of optics, microelectronics, mechatronics and multiphysical simulation, the company in Villach has the best conditions for future-oriented development and research projects.
"CTR has positioned itself among the top players in the field of microelectronics and electronics-based systems thanks to its research competence, its infrastructure and the international network of business and science," said the two CTR directors, Dr. Werner Scherf (CEO) and DI Simon Grasser, MBA (CFO).