Saxon Innovation Conference 2023 - all winners

On July 4, 2023, Messe Dresden was transformed into an innovation showcase: the highlight was the award ceremony for the winners of the three Saxon State Prizes for Start-ups, Transfer and Innovation with Martin Dulig, Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport, and Marina Heimann, Managing Director of futureSAX GmbH.

SAXON FOUNDER AWARD 2023: THE AWARD WINNERS

The Saxon Start-up Award was presented for the 23rd time in 2023. Out of a total of 74 applications, twelve favorites prevailed in front of the 90-member jury in the first round of judging.

First place this year went to PowerOn GmbH from Dresden. They developed a sensor skin with which they can give robots "fingertip sensitivity". This overcomes the barrier between humans and robots by giving them a sense of touch, artificial muscles and bionic reflexes. The first product is the "TouchDetect" tactile fingertip for robot grippers. It gives robots a sense of touch, allows them to recognize what is being gripped and is also flexible, stretchable and printable.

The award winner particularly impressed us, the jury, with its clear, convincing vision, its products for the B2B sector and its technical solutions, which offer a high level of benefit and innovation and thus solve current problems in the industry.

Anke Lemke, Head of Communications, Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH

Second place went to Credoxys GmbH from Dresden, which develops redox technologies for organic electronics and renewable energies. The jury was impressed: "... CREDOXYS is entering this market with a highly experienced team and a patented material with improved properties to bring innovation and competition to this market. Display manufacturers are likely to be very interested in such a second source." (Hannes Schill, Venture Partner, eCapital entrepreneurial Partners AG, Münster - juror for the second round of judging).

Third place was shared by two innovative start-ups: DIVE Imaging Systems GmbH from Dresden and TRIMT GmbH from Radeberg. With a combined hardware and software solution for a new dimension of machine vision, DIVE increases the reliability of semiconductor production and at the same time reduces waste in the process, thereby saving costs. The jury was particularly impressed by the innovative combination of a specific hardware solution, software and AI, which they see as a business idea with great potential.

TRIMT GmbH uses a biomarker called αvβ6-integrin, which is found in high density on most pancreatic cancer cells, to sensitively localize the nodules. The radiopharmaceutical Ga-68-TRIVEHEXIN can detect pancreatic cancer by specifically binding itself to small amounts of this biomarker. It helps surgeons and oncologists to optimize their treatment.

The futureSAX public vote, which was cast in an open online voting process (3,272 votes) for all start-up competition participants who did not make it among the nominees, went to "Die vegane Fleischerei" by Henning, Meyer-Götz, Quis & Steiger GbR. Between April and the end of May 2023, a total of 2,372 votes were submitted via the online portal. The "winners of hearts", as they are affectionately known, received a high-quality non-cash prize from Novaled GmbH, which has repeatedly sponsored the futureSAX Audience Award.

SAXON TRANSFER PRIZE 2023: THE AWARD WINNERS

The most recent Saxon State Prize was awarded for the fourth time this year: The Saxon Transfer Prize. After the first round of evaluation by twelve jury members, ten nominated transfer projects emerged from the 19 approved applications. Due to the withdrawal of one of the applications, there were still nine innovative transfer projects competing for the prizes in the second round of judging on May 25, 2023.

First place went to Dr. Johannes Notni from the Technical University of Munich, Institute of Pathology. He was nominated by TRIMT GmbH from Radeberg (3rd place in the Saxon Founder Award 2023) as part of the transfer project "Translation and clinical application of cancer integrin-targeted radiopharmaceuticals", from which the start-up emerged. The jury particularly appreciated: "When research excellence at TU Munich is combined with the Saxon entrepreneurial spirit of Radiopharmaceutical Valley and stock market capital from overseas, the result is exemplary transfer. We wish TRIMT GmbH in Radeberg that the further clinical trials of the novel radiotracer GA-68-Trivehexin for the improved diagnosis of pancreatic cancer will be successful." (Dr. Björn Wolf, Head of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Department, HZDR - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf - juror of the Saxon Transfer Prize).

The jury awarded second place to Dr. Richard Gloaguen from the Helmholtz Institute for Resource Technology Freiberg (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. He was nominated by TheiaX GmbH from Freiberg for his work as part of the transfer project "Sustainable, efficient raw material exploration with AI-supported imaging and mapping methods". Dr. Richard Gloaguen established the exploration department at the HIF and is a pioneer of new technologies for the exploration of mineral resources. He also supervised scientists who switched to the spin-off TheiaX after completing their doctorates, which he initiated and supported.

Third place went to Holger Kunze from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU for the project "Räucher-Willy - High-tech material meets traditional Erzgebirge handicrafts", proposed by Original Füchtner - Werkstatt alter Volkskunst in Seiffen. Juror Prof. Dr. h.c. Uwe Götze, holder of the Chair of Management Accounting and Controlling at Chemnitz University of Technology, summarized the jury's decision: "The integration of shape-memory alloys into products of the Erzgebirge arts and crafts is a prime example of the successful transfer of research results into fields of application that initially seem far away. With this transfer project, Holger Kunze has opened up new design scope for artisans in the form of object features that change under the influence of heat and new market potential in a short space of time."

The special prize for technology mediators was awarded to Christian Christesen, Innovation Manager for Resource Technologies in the Technology Transfer and Innovation Department of the HZDR - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and founding innovator and Managing Director of TheiaX GmbH. The jury was impressed by Christian Christesen's initiative in the targeted and business-oriented spin-off of TheiaX GmbH, as he recognized the potential of the innovation at an early stage and was instrumental in preparing the application for funding.

SAXON INNOVATION AWARD 2023: THE AWARD WINNERS

The Free State of Saxony is honoring the innovative spirit of established entrepreneurship for the 22nd time with the Saxon Innovation Award. From 38 eligible applications, 100 honorary jurors selected eleven nominees after one application was withdrawn after the first round of judging. The three relevant criteria were once again: degree of innovation, entrepreneurial commitment and economic success of the innovation.

First place went to NOVUM engineerING GmbH from Dresden. They use AI to determine the state of charge, current capacity and expected service life of batteries in a matter of seconds. This means they can be used for longer and reused several times - innovative and sustainable. Manuela Harken, Head of the Economics Department at Sächsische Aufbaubank - Förderbank - and jury member of the second round of judging: "[...] In a matter of seconds, AI-supported innovation makes it possible to give batteries several life cycles. In addition to the economic effects for the companies using the batteries, this innovation makes an important contribution to environmental protection."

Second place went to Anvajo GmbH from Dresden. They combine a miniaturized spectrometer with a digital microscope to enable point-of-need diagnostics in various industries. The target samples include blood, urine, semen and water. Pre-analysis is supported by a system of special sample carriers that process and provide the fluid to be analyzed. The jury was particularly impressed by the potential for broad application and the possible positive social impact.

Third place was shared by two innovative companies: eccenca GmbH from Leipzig and MSG Lithoglas GmbH from Dresden. eccenca GmbH masters the challenge of a distributed and complex physical infrastructure in real time for mobile networks with the help of its digital software supply chain. Automation enables significant energy-saving potential with reductions of up to 25%.

MSG Lithoglas GmbH offers disinfection of viruses and bacteria using a unique, efficient UVC light module that uses integrated micromirrors to provide a highly efficient light yield for use in the disinfection of water, air and surfaces.

The special prize of the Saxon Chambers of Crafts went to the Werner Chr. Schmidt - Mundstück- & Metall-Blasinstrumentenbau manufactory for its lead- and nickel-free trumpet. With this world first, the long-established company from Markneukirchen is responding to current challenges such as the lead and nickel ban under the European REACH regulation. This innovative spirit in craftsmanship convinced the jury: "[...] With years of great entrepreneurial commitment and motivation, new manufacturing processes and materials were tested and perfected. The result is the "la rossa", an absolute world first, which is also completely convincing in terms of design and sound. An innovation that has rightly been awarded the special prize!" (Dr. Christian R. Welzbacher, Director of the Heinz Piest Institute for Craft Techniques at Leibnitz University Hanover - juror of the second round of judging).