Wirtschaftskammer Tirol - Research Prize of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce

Research Prize of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce

You receive a one-off cash prize of 2,000 EUR for an outstanding thesis. Four prizes are awarded each year, 8,000 EUR in total: three for diploma or master's theses (one in each of three subject areas) and one for the best doctoral or PhD thesis. The Tyrol Chamber of Commerce funds the award and runs it through the University of Innsbruck. It recognises work that is original, useful to society and relevant to business in Tyrol.

Who can apply

• What you submit: A finished diploma thesis, master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. This is a prize for completed work, not a grant for ongoing study.
• Where it was graded: Your thesis was approved at the University of Innsbruck, the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) or the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences.
• Grade: Your thesis was graded "sehr gut" (very good), the top mark in Austria.
• Timing: Your thesis was approved within the last two calendar years, from 1 January 2025 onwards.
• Field of study: Open to three areas: mathematics, computer science and natural sciences; engineering; and economics, social sciences and humanities.
• One entry: You can submit each thesis only once. If your thesis is restricted, you need written consent from the company that commissioned it.

How to apply

You send your application by email as PDF files. The deadline is 5 August 2026. Selection runs in two stages. First, the University of Innsbruck nominates the three best master's theses and the best dissertation. Then the nominees present their work in a short hearing before a jury, which picks the winners. The award ceremony is planned for 15 December 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is narrow: only theses approved at these three Tyrol institutions with the top grade can enter, so the eligible pool is small. If you have a "sehr gut" thesis from one of them and can show clear benefit to society and relevance to Tyrol's economy, your prospects are good. Note that your work must first be nominated internally before it reaches the jury.