To strengthen the innovation and business location and its position at the forefront of international research, the federal and state governments are promoting application-oriented cutting-edge research with the COMET programme. The COMET project “Digital Motion”, led by Salzburg Research and the University of Salzburg, has now been approved for funding for four years in a highly competitive process. This will take cooperation between business and science in the field of digitalisation & sport to a new level. With a budget totalling six million euros, work will be carried out in the coming years on digital technologies for more vitality and safety in movement and sport.

The new COMET project aims to bring more vitality and safety to exercise and sport. With the help of digital technologies such as new sensor systems, digital textiles and artificial intelligence, the consortium is developing data-driven innovations for safety and behavioural changes in physical activity. The focus is on incentivising greater vitality and increasing endurance and performance when running, supporting recreational athletes in winter sports and (e-)biking with smart equipment such as helmets and gloves, and supporting people with disabilities through assisted movement, for example with the help of sentient prostheses or exoskeletons.

New standards for digitalisation in sport, fitness and well-being

The COMET project Digital Motion brings together the entire value chain for smart product development, from suppliers of technology components and integrators to product manufacturers and service providers, in order to achieve new forms of interactivity. The goals are more innovative customer experiences, more vitality and safety in sport and movement. Digital Motion will set new standards for digitalisation in sport, fitness and well-being, enabling both professional and recreational sport and rehabilitation to optimise individual performance and achieve goals more effectively.

The COMET project “Digital Motion next level” was highly competitive and was recommended for funding as one of eight projects from a total of 16 submissions. The partners in the consortium come from seven different countries and a total of 16 companies are involved – in addition to well-known large companies such as adidas, Atomic, Infineon, Pierer Innovation and Uniqua, there are also numerous start-ups and SMEs. The competence centre will provide a springboard into cutting-edge research for around 15 PhD students. One innovation from the first four years of the competence centre, the Connected Boot, was awarded the Houska Prize, Austria’s largest prize for applied research, in 2023.

Red-white-red flagship programme for the promotion of cutting-edge research

COMET is the red-white-red flagship programme of business and science for the promotion of cutting-edge research. Funding is provided by the Republic of Austria (BMK, BMAW), the participating provinces of Salzburg, Upper Austria and Tyrol as well as the participating companies and research organisations. Three of the total six million euros available come directly from industry.

More information:

• Press release (in German): Exzellente Technologieforschung in Salzburg: COMET-Projekt Digital Motion geht ins nächste Level
• Website: www.digital-motion.at