Economic impact: Federal Economic Chamber honors four students from the University of Graz

Economic Chamber President Josef Herk (left) and Gernot Faustmann from Research Management at the University of Graz (right) congratulated the award winners: supervisors Michael Kopel and Nicole Rauch, Matthias Salomon, Susanne Bräuer and supervisor Ulrich Pferschy (from left). Scholarship holder Benjamin Gigerl and his supervisor Stephan Thalmann as well as Salomon's supervisor Karl Steininger are not in the picture. Photo: Fischer

The Styrian Economic Chamber supports 22 business-related Master's theses, four of them at the University of Graz.

Susanne Bräuer, Benjamin Gigerl, Nicole Rauch and Matthias Salomon recently were awarded their research scholarships at a ceremony at the Styrian Economic Chamber. They each received 2500 euros for their Master's theses, with a further 500 euros going to the supervising departments for project.

How can pickers in large warehouses collect ordered products as efficiently as possible in order to save time and effort? In cooperation with Knapp AG, Susanne Bräuer developed a mathematical optimisation model that can answer this question. The software saves as much as 20 percent in time.

Before transformers go into operation, they have to undergo extensive testing. If errors occur, this results in additional high costs. Benjamin Gigerl has developed a forecasting system based on AI that takes more than 100 different parameters into account and can predict the results of quality control with 80 percent accuracy. This means that measures can be taken before the actual inspection and a lot of money can be saved.

Nicole Rauch has analysed how individual companies are implementing the controversial EU supply chain law. Her conclusion: consumers are increasingly demanding transparency, so from an economic perspective, companies should implement the requirements today rather than tomorrow.

Is climate protection killing prosperity? Matthias Salomon looked at this question and examined scenarios on the path to climate neutrality. The sooner we reduce energy consumption or do without fossil fuels, the more resilient the economy will be in times of crisis. In the long term, climate protection is a prerequisite for prosperity.

Video with more detailed information on the four award-winning projects

Dagmar Eklaude

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