From the further development of the Styrian harmonica (Quetschn) with the help of digitalization (keyword 3D printing), to the early diagnosis of dementia using artificial intelligence, to a network for the development of sustainable and innovative algae-based food - the topics of the funded projects in the latest call for proposals for the COIN networks are broadly diversified. "The broad range of topics proves Austria's high innovative strength. What unites all the projects is the idea of cooperation and innovation: Through the establishment of networks with several partners, innovative products, processes or services are developed and the innovative capacity of SMEs in particular is strengthened in a targeted manner through the transfer of technology and knowledge. Digitisation, which plays an important role in almost all projects, is also central to this. The innovative strength of our companies is an important lever for Austria as a business and research location," emphasises Digitisation Minister Margarete Schramböck. In the twelfth round of the network programme line in COIN (Cooperation & Innovation), the Federal Ministry for Digitisation and Business Location (BMDW) is funding a total of eight projects with around 3.5 million euros. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) will be responsible for handling the projects.
"The past few months have shown that networking and innovation are the nuts and bolts of being able to overcome major challenges quickly and sustainably. From our numerous contacts with partners from science and industry we know: You are now focusing on innovation. We provide them with targeted support, for example through COIN, which gives innovative SMEs access to external know-how," say Henrietta Egerth and Klaus Pseiner, the two FFG managing directors. In the eleven previous calls for proposals of the COIN networks, 152 projects have already been funded with more than 53 million euros.
At AIT, the Competence Unit Digital Health Information Systems, Center for Health & Bioresources, is involved with the project BrainCheck. This project is concerned with the early diagnosis of dementia using AI-based analysis of brain activity during cognitive tests. Dementia is a widespread, neurodegenerative disease that causes great suffering for patients and their families. Even though the disease is incurable in most cases, it can be actively counteracted and mental deterioration can be delayed. To do this, the disease must be detected early, but current diagnostic methods are not yet suitable for this.
The BrainCheck project will develop a novel system for early dementia diagnosis based on electroencephalography (EEG). The EEG measures the electrical activity of the brain and is an inexpensive, non-invasive and easy-to-use examination method. A major innovation of this project is to develop a diagnostic device that makes these differences in the EEG visible by stimulating the cortex with specific cognitive tasks, using novel methods of artificial intelligence, especially deep learning technologies. The central result of this project is a new type of diagnostic device that for the first time enables a simple, inexpensive and reliable early diagnosis of dementia. The onset of the disease can thus be significantly delayed for many patients and the development of new drugs to cure the disease can be much more efficient and faster.
Five partners are working with the AIT on the project, Memocorby Systems GmbH, MyMind GmbH, INFORMATICS Healthcare GmbH, MTP e.U. and the Karl Landsteiner Institute for Epilepsy Research and Cognitive Neurology (KLI).