Dominik Leherbauer

Dominik Leherbauer is a Researcher at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, affiliated with the Research Center Wels, Center of Excellence for Energy, and Center of Excellence for Smart Production. His work focuses on Smart Mechatronics Engineering and energy-efficient industrial systems.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and the Austrian academic title Diplom-Ingenieur (DI), equivalent to a Master of Engineering.

Leherbauer's research specializes in optimizing industrial energy consumption through Demand Side Management, Energy Flexibility, and holistic production modeling. He develops model-based frameworks for quantifying electricity usage in manufacturing processes, with emphasis on polymer extrusion recycling and digital twin applications for aircraft component testing. His work directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable industry and clean energy.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating physics-based modeling with real-time industrial data to enhance energy-aware production systems. His 2025 systematic mapping study identified critical gaps in demand-side management for non-heavy industries, while subsequent works applied model-based systems engineering to mechanical recycling and aerospace testing.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Beste mechatronische Masterarbeiten Österreichischer Fachhochschulen (2022)
• Beste Präsentation der Masterarbeit (2022)
• TÜV Austria Wissenschaftspreis (Kategorie Publikumspreis) (2022)
• Young Energy Researchers Award 2021 (2022)

Leherbauer secured research funding through the EnerMan project (2021-2024) for energy-efficient manufacturing management and the BF-APPSDe project (2019-2020) for agile product-service system design. His work has generated significant media attention including coverage in Der Standard, Energie Star 2021, and Oberösterreicher des Tages.

He operates within the university's Centers of Excellence for Energy and Smart Production, collaborating with international research teams on industrial energy flexibility solutions and model-based production optimization.