Styrian Economic Chamber awards scholarships to three students at the University of Graz

Presentation of the WKO scholarships 2025: WKO Styria Director Karl-Heinz Dernoscheg, Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind and Leonie Sayer (University of Graz, Department of Environmental Systems Sciences), Doris Dallinger and Elena Pusca (University of Graz, Department of Chemistry), Stefan Thalmann (University of Graz, Business Analytics and Data Science Center), Daniela Pinter (University of Graz, Department of Psychology), Barbara Haselsteiner (University of Graz, Research Management and Service), WKO Styria President Josef Herk (f.l.). © Foto Fischer

In their Master's theses, Daniela Pinter, Elena Pusca and Leonie Sayer are focussing on topics that are of particular importance to the economy. On 1 July 2025, the students from the University of Graz each received a research grant of 2,100 euros from the Styrian Economic Chamber. In addition, 500 euros each will go to the institutes where the theses are supervised.

What is the impact of an AI-based quality assurance system in pharmaceutical production?
Daniela Pinter, a business administration student, is investigating this question. Based on interviews with employees of Fresenius Kabi, she shows which emotions and attitudes accompany the process of AI implementation and what is important for a successful introduction of the new system.
⇒ Master's programme Business Administration

How can the manufacturing process of an Alzheimer's drug be optimised?
Elena Pusca, a student of technical chemistry, is working on using flow chemistry to increase the yield and efficiency of galantamine production. In particular, a special spinning disc reactor is intended to improve the key reaction step and thus make production more cost-effective for Sanochemie.
⇒ Master's programme Technical Chemistry

What is the environmental impact of producing renewable hydrogen?
As a student of the Joint International Master's Programme in Sustainable Development, Leonie Sayer is preparing a comprehensive life cycle assessment of an alkaline electrolyser (AEL) for the production of renewable hydrogen. She is analysing how long it takes for the positive environmental impact of the end product to outweigh the negative impact of its production and what has been overlooked so far. It thus provides valuable insights for the direction of future renewable hydrogen projects.
⇒ Joint International Master‘s Programme in Sustainable Development

Videos about the three scholarship holders

About the scholarships

Gudrun Pichler

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