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Die Technology Talks Austria – Österreichs führende Technologiekonferenz – versammeln 2025 mehr als 20 international renommierte Top-Speaker:innen im MuseumsQuartier Wien. Angeführt von EU-Vizepräsidentin Henna Virkkunen und Samsung-Spitzenmanager Young Sohn, stehen am 11. und 12. September die Sicherung und der Ausbau der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit Österreichs und Europas im Fokus. Die Veranstaltung findet direkt im Anschluss an das FFG-Forum statt. Weitere Informationen unter technology-talks-austria.at.
Europe's competitiveness has come under pressure in recent years, and this also applies to Austria as a business location. The federal government has set itself the goal of developing an industrial strategy by the end of the year that will pave the way for an economic turnaround. Research, technology and innovation are seen as key levers for strengthening Europe's position in the long term. Against this backdrop, the Technology Talks Austria 2025 are dedicated to the key topic of competitiveness.
In addition to the three federal ministers responsible for research, technology and innovation, Peter Hanke (Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure), Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (Economy, Energy and Tourism) and Eva-Maria Holzleitner (Women, Science and Research), the Technology Talks Austria will feature a very special guest: on Friday, the political debate will be opened by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. The programme starts on Thursday with a keynote speech by Young Sohn, top manager at Samsung and successful venture capital entrepreneur.
Dialogue with all relevant stakeholders
"The involvement of all relevant stakeholders from science, research and technology, business and industry as well as politics and public administration is essential in order to strengthen our competitiveness in a targeted manner," emphasises Brigitte Bach, Managing Director of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and Spokesperson of the Management Board.
"The Technology Talks Austria offer in-depth discussions with renowned experts and enable intensive dialogue and networking with key players in the technology scene," adds Andreas Kugi, Scientific Director of the AIT.
Boosting Competitiveness - The Power of Research & Innovation
The role of research, technology and innovation for Europe's competitiveness will be examined from different perspectives in six plenary sessions. The focus will be on key topics such as productivity and digitalisation, technology leadership, resources and resilience as well as the political and structural framework conditions for greater competitiveness. The insights gained will be incorporated into two research policy panels at European and national level. In addition, workshops - in collaboration with partners - will explore selected aspects of the general topic in greater depth and expand the discourse with complementary content.
More than 20 top international speakers, including Alexandra Brintrup (University of Cambridge), Jay Lala (RTX), Maria Rescigno (Humanitas University), Leopold Summerer (ESA), Stéphane Bourg (OFREMI), Guy Lalanne (OECD), Maria Cristina Russo (EU Commission) and Francois Jacq (EARTO/CEA) - as well as top representatives of stakeholders from the European and national level - will contribute to this:austrian stakeholders such as Sylvia Schwaag Serger (FORWIT), Georg Kopetz (TTTech), Ulrike Diebold (ÖAW), Georg Knill (IV), Sabine Herlitschka (Infineon Austria) and Karlheinz Wex (Plansee).
Details of the programme and tickets (regular: €240, students €120) can be found at www.technology-talks-austria.at.
About the Technology Talks Austria 2025
Technology Talks Austria (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: 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).
Workshops: these cover a broad spectrum - from EU programmes and the competition for talent to space, mobility and battery research, key technologies and spin-off funding. They are organised by:
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), Council for Research, Science, Innovation and Technology Development (FORWIT), Vienna University of Technology.
Ministries: BMFWF, BMIMI, BMWET.
Associations & platforms: A3PS, Electronics and Software Based Systems Austria (ESBS), Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO).
In addition, side events are planned - in particular 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 WKO.
Other partners: Bosch, Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG), MuseumsQuartier Wien, Vienna Business Agency.
www.technology-talks-austria.at