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35 hours of top-class programme at the summit meeting of the domestic technology community
the Technology Talks Austria - Austria's most relevant technology conference - will bring together more than 25 internationally renowned top speakers - led by EU Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Samsung top manager Young Sohn - at the MuseumsQuartier Vienna on 11 and 12 September 2025 to discuss the central importance of research, technology and innovation for Austria's and Europe's competitiveness and to draw concrete conclusions for shaping the future. The programme includes a total of 35 hours of top-class keynotes, plenary sessions, workshops and special events.
Making Austria and Europe fit for the future
"Innovation is the key to a good economic future. The federal government is developing an industrial strategy by the end of the year to make Austria fit for the next century. All stakeholders come together at the Technology Talks Austria. Science, research, politics, but also companies and investors can exchange ideas here. We all know that good networks determine whether there will be success for Austria and Europe at the end of the day," says Innovation Minister Peter Hanke, giving an outlook on the conference.
"Austria must not get stuck in the midtech trap. We must take the next step towards high-tech - where the future is decided. High-tech is a driver of innovation and a key resilience factor in times of global uncertainty. That is why there is also a clear political commitment to excellence, cutting-edge research and a location that is open to technology. This also means that we must safeguard budgets for research and development and not cut them. Our aim is to bring together the best minds, the best ideas and the best framework conditions in Austria. The Technology Talks Austria are precisely the place where this future becomes tangible," emphasises Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer.
"Technology Talks Austria creates space for real encounters, fresh impetus and pioneering ideas for tomorrow - beyond the digital echo chambers. Innovation and progress can only arise where science, business, politics and society work together. The freedom of science and research is a key prerequisite for ensuring social cohesion and competitiveness," says Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner.
"Global competitive pressure has rarely been as high and obvious as it is today. It is important to react quickly to this challenge and proactively shape the future. Technological areas of strength are a very important criterion here, which can only be driven forward through research, technology development and innovation. Investments in this area have the power to create highly innovative and high-quality solutions that clearly set Europe apart from other regions," explains IV President Georg Knill.
Boosting Competitiveness - The Power of Research and Innovation
Under the title "Boosting Competitiveness - The Power of Research and Innovation", the Technology Talks Austria 2025 will feature two keynotes, six high-calibre panel discussions and 14 supplementary workshops that will explore key aspects of the topic in greater depth. The topics range from digitalisation and key technologies, resource issues, technology leadership and scale-ups to talent promotion, the faster transfer of research results into practice and framework conditions for greater competitiveness. Young researchers also play a key role in the programme. Regional innovation systems are at the centre of a round table discussion with Willibald Ehrenhöfer (Styrian Minister of Economic Affairs) and Werner Pamminger (Business Upper Austria).
Special events as a valuable addition
In addition to the plenary programme and the workshops, there will be several special events dedicated to specific aspects of the topic:
- Under the title "Towards Sovereign Business Success", the Gaia-X Hub Austria and the Industry 4.0 platform will address the question of how companies can successfully develop digital products that fit the market and at the same time fulfil European expectations - in other words, what digital business success in Europe can look like.
- The Federal Ministry of Defence (BMLV) will present important measures in space that are essential for command and control and situational awareness - particularly in the areas of satellite communication, satellite navigation and satellite-based earth observation and reconnaissance - under the title "Development of critical space services for Austria's security and defence within the European framework".
- The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) invites you to a meeting of the BOLD Community, which brings together pioneers and creative minds from various disciplines to shape the economy of tomorrow, in a relaxed atmosphere over coffee and breakfast (registration required: bold@wko.at).
- At the TU Austria Talent Breakfast, six outstanding companies will give students valuable insights into their work culture, career opportunities and what drives today's industry leaders (invitation required).
The provinces of Upper Austria and Styria/Joanneum Research, APA, AT&S, Bosch, BMLV, FFG, Silicon Alps Electronic Cluster, TU Austria and the Vienna Business Agency will be presenting themselves in an exhibition area.
In addition, on 11 and 12 September, the roadLAB of the Technisches Museum will make a stop in the inner courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier with its low-threshold offers for the mediation of technologies, especially in the field of digital production techniques.
Attractive ticket price - secure your ticket now
The Technology Talks Austria will take place directly after the FFG Forum (on 10 September). Details on the programme and tickets (regular: 240 euros, students: 120 euros) can be found at www.technology-talks-austria.at.
About the Technology Talks Austria 2025
Technology Talks Austria (www.technology-talks-austria.at) is Austria's most relevant technology conference with a European and international perspective. The Technology Talks Austria are organised by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) as well as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV).
Event partners: TU Austria (TU Vienna, TU Graz, Montanuni Leoben), Province of Upper Austria, Joanneum Research/Province of Styria, Federal Ministry of Defence (BMLV).
The following scientific partners are involved in the programme design: acatech - German Academy of Science and Engineering, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Christian Doppler Gesellschaft (CDG), Forschung Austria, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), TU Austria, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW).
Workshop partners:
Institutions & Agencies: AIT, Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS), Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR), ecoplus (Province of Lower Austria), FFG, FWF, Joanneum Research (Province of Styria), Climate and Energy Fund (KLIEN), Austrian Council for Research, Science, Innovation and Technology Development (FORWIT), TU Vienna
Ministries: BMIMI, BMFWF, BMWET
Associations & platforms: A3PS, Electronics and Software Based Systems Austria (ESBS-Austria), Association for the Promotion of Research and Innovation (VFFI), Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)
Side events are organised by the federal states of Upper Austria and Styria, the BMLV, Gaia-X Hub Austria in cooperation with the Industry 4.0 platform, TU Austria and the WKO.
Other partners: AT&S, Bosch, Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG), MuseumsQuartier Wien, Silicon Alps Electronic Cluster, Siemens, Vienna Business Agency as well as Die Presse, Industriemagazin, Austria Innovativ and APA Science and the City of Vienna.
Accreditations for media representatives for the Technology Talks Austria 2025 at presse@ait.ac.at
Technology Talks Austria 2025: www.technology-talks-austria.at