Ensuring competitiveness, building resilient critical infrastructure, modernising energy and mobility systems, and harnessing the opportunities offered by digitalisation: Europe’s major challenges cannot be solved by new scientific findings alone. What matters is how quickly and successfully research findings are put into practice.
The new AIT Impact Report 2026 uses around 30 examples to illustrate how the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, together with partners from industry, academia and the public sector, translates research into concrete solutions. The projects presented range from the digitalisation of industrial processes and sustainable energy and industrial systems to health, mobility, security and the circular economy.
“Developing new technologies is only the first step. What matters is their successful integration into industrial and societal systems. This is precisely where AIT’s role lies. We combine scientific insights with technological implementation, thereby laying the foundations for competitiveness, resilience and sustainable development. The Impact Report uses concrete examples to demonstrate how this transfer into practice is achieved”, says Andreas Kugi, Scientific Director of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
Making research effective where it is needed
As a research and technology organisation, AIT works on solutions to the key challenges facing the economy and society. Its work centres on the institute’s two strategic priorities: the digital transformation of industry and society, and resilient and sustainable infrastructure in the fields of energy, mobility and health.
The examples presented in the Impact Report demonstrate how research findings lead to tangible improvements – for instance, through more efficient industrial processes, a more resource-efficient use of energy, more resilient infrastructure, greater safety, or new possibilities in prevention, diagnosis and healthcare. They highlight how research can make a measurable contribution to the performance of the economy and society.
Furthermore, the report documents outstanding scientific publications, successful start-ups and spin-offs, international research networks, and AIT’s state-of-the-art research and laboratory infrastructure. These form the basis for numerous collaborations with companies, public institutions and scientific partner organisations both in Austria and abroad.
Competitiveness comes from implementation
The ability to rapidly translate new findings into marketable technologies and practical solutions is increasingly becoming a key competitive factor for Europe. Applied research plays a central role at this interface between science, technology and application.
“Europe has a strong scientific foundation. However, what is crucial for competitiveness and prosperity is how successfully new findings are translated into innovations, products and services. Our partners benefit not only from technological know-how, but also from our experience in combining different technologies to create functioning, integrated solutions. This ability to put ideas into practice is a key factor in the success of Austria and Europe as centres of innovation”, emphasises Kugi.
New perspectives on research and impact
The AIT art programme, artloop, is also featured in the Impact Report. Works by the internationally renowned artist Nikolaus Gansterer have been selected for the 2026 edition. His drawings offer new perspectives on the processes of knowledge acquisition and complement the report with an artistic reflection on research, innovation and impact.
The AIT Impact Report 2026 is now available online:
www.ait.ac.at/impact-report