City of Innsbruck Award for Research & Innovation at MCI

At a ceremony held in the new premises of the Innsbruck City Library, Mayor of Innsbruck Georg Willi recently presented the MCI with the coveted City of Innsbruck Award for Research and Innovation. The two award winners, both in the field of technical research, impressed not only with their extraordinary research work and developments, but also with their careers to date, which testifies to the extraordinary commitment they have demonstrated.

Lecturer Dr.Lukas Möltner had originally embarked on a career as a craftsman, advancing from apprentice to master mechanic. At the MCI, he then completed a diploma in process and environmental engineering, followed by a doctorate in mechanical engineering at the Vienna University of Technology. Parallel to this, he obtained a diploma in the field of sustainable energy systems. His habilitation at the Vienna University of Technology represents the pinnacle of his scientific career to date. The postdoctoral thesis on internal combustion engines and automotive engineering comprises three focal points: The use of regenerative fuels, the engine utilization of biogas and exhaust-gas after-treatment. Accordingly, for this postdoctoral thesis, he has been awarded the City of Innsbruck Award.

Since 2009, Dr. Möltner has gained an excellent reputation among students and colleagues as a lecturer at MCI, and now since 2011 as head of the Department of Process Engineering in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, as well as Head of Research for Engine Technology and Emissions. His reputation is also confirmed by numerous teaching assignments at other colleges and universities.

Curriculum Vitae of Lukas Möltner

Dr. Thomas Senfter, a passionate climber, mountain and ski guide and mountain rescue member, also demonstrates a committed career. After completing his HTL and a Bachelor and Master degree in Environmental, Process & Biotechnology at the MCI, he earned his doctorate at the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University of Innsbruck with an incredible grade-point average of 1.0. Numerous scholarships and awards adorn his career path, and early on, he complemented his studies with practical experience, such as at GE Jenbacher and ILF Beratende Ingenieure among others. Since 2012, he has been available to MCI as a lecturer and research assistant in numerous projects, and now since 2019, he has been research assistant in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management.

Thomas Senfter was bestowed with the City of Innsbruck Award for the development of a novel apparatus for the separation of impurities at sewage treatment plants. Since 2018, a prototype of this separator has been in use at a Tyrolean wastewater treatment plant and has shown impressive results, which are reflected in a considerable conservation of resources in the wastewater treatment process as well as in reduced wastewater costs.

Curriculum Vitae Thomas Senfter

Michael Kraxner, Head of Research & Development at MCI, sees the gratifying development of research activities at MCI confirmed: "With xxx research partners and a research volume of XX Euro, the Entrepreneurial School® has long been one of the serious players in our region. I am delighted that with the support of the City of Innsbruck, we are able to bring our best young researchers to the fore.

The City of Innsbruck Award for Research and Innovation at the Management Center Innsbruck was presented for the first time in 2017. The MCI organizes the annual competition and chooses the nominees. The city of Innsbruck provides the prize money of €5,000 euros while the City Senate chooses the winners for the award/s from the nominees provided by the MCI.