How can industrial transformation become a competitive advantage? Under the theme ‘Future Industry – Innovating for Competitiveness’, the fourth NEFI Conference on 22 and 23 October 2026 brought together over 200 representatives from industry, research and politics from 14 countries at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna. The focus was on concrete solutions for the transformation of industrial processes, as well as on the question of which technological innovations and policy frameworks are required to strengthen the competitiveness of the industrial sector. Current research findings, practical examples and strategic perspectives were discussed in 13 thematic sessions. In total, the conference programme comprised around 80 scientific presentations.
Bernhard Gahleitner, NEFI network coordinator at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, emphasises:
“Industrial transformation is not an end in itself – it is a prerequisite for the competitiveness of an economy in transition towards climate neutrality. NEFI demonstrates how research, industry and policymakers can work together to accelerate this transformation by pooling expertise and testing technologies under real-world conditions. With the NEFI Impact Report presented here, we are demonstrating the contribution our 55 projects make to the climate, the economy and resilience – and where the next levers for action lie.”
Thomas Kienberger, Head of the NEFI+ Innovation Lab and the Chair of Energy Integration Technology at the Montanuniversität Leoben, also emphasises the importance of implementation: “Innovation will determine tomorrow’s industrial competitiveness. At NEFI, we use our scenarios to establish the framework for transformation and accelerate implementation – from electrification and efficiency, through flexibility and renewable gases, to Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCU/S), the circular economy and industrial symbiosis. Our aim is clear: not only to develop technologies, but to scale them up in real-world operations and thereby achieve a measurable impact on locations, value creation and climate protection.”
International perspectives on the industry of the future
International keynote speeches by Stefan Lechtenböhmer (University of Kassel), Mercedes Maroto-Valer (Heriot-Watt University/IDRIC), Alexander Sauer (University of Stuttgart/Fraunhofer IPA) and Christian Wallner (KELAG) provided insights from the worlds of research, industry and energy infrastructure. During the panel discussion, Martin Graf (Energie Steiermark), Thomas Kienberger (Leoben University of Mining and Technology), Stephan Laiminger (INNIO Jenbacher), Judith Neyer (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism) and Urban Peyker (Climate and Energy Fund) discussed key challenges of industrial transformation. The discussion was moderated by Christiane Egger (Energiesparverband Oberösterreich).
A key conclusion: the transition to a climate-resilient industry offers Austrian companies the opportunity to strengthen their international competitiveness. This requires a stable political framework, targeted support for research and innovation, and demonstration and investment projects that translate new technologies into industrial practice. Funding instruments for industrial transformation were also highlighted as an important lever for implementation.
NEFI Impact Report: Potential for Climate Protection and Value Creation
The NEFI Impact Report 2018–2026, presented at the conference, takes stock of the innovation network’s activities and highlights the potential for industrial decarbonisation. A total of 110 million euros in funding was allocated to 55 projects, triggering investments amounting to 275 million euros.
The modelled projections illustrate the potential impact if the developed solutions are implemented optimally: by 2040, up to 53 per cent of expected industrial CO₂ emissions could be avoided. The demand for fossil fuel imports could fall by up to 26 per cent. The report thus demonstrates that industrial decarbonisation can not only contribute to climate protection but also strengthen competitiveness and security of supply. LINK Report
Virtual Industry Lab: Digital tools for industrial transformation
On the eve of the conference, the NEFI Virtual Industry Lab (VIL) was unveiled as an XR showroom and digital tool hub. The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology played a key role in developing the immersive XR experiences for various industrial use cases, thereby bringing innovative solutions for industrial transformation to life in a vivid and interactive way. The VIL Tool Hub supports industrial companies in evaluating, planning and implementing sustainable energy and resource systems. Presentations by Andreas Kugi (Scientific Director, AIT) and Bernhard Gahleitner (NEFI Network Coordinator, AIT), Manfred Tscheligi (Head of the Center for Technology Experience at AIT) and Johannes Rath (CTO, Wienerberger AG) highlighted the importance of simulation for industrial decision-making processes. Using practical examples from brick production as well as the pharmaceutical and paper industries, the international guests gained insights into how digital visualisations and optimisation tools support companies in developing technical and economic decarbonisation pathways. The VIL brings such applications to life and aims to strengthen the transfer of knowledge into industrial practice. https://www.nefi.at/en/nefi-lab/virtual-industry-lab
NEFI Young Scientist Award 2026: Two first prizes awarded
The NEFI Young Scientist Award recognised outstanding scientific work by young researchers. Due to the high quality of the submissions, two first prizes and one third prize were awarded.
The 2026 prize winners are:
- 1st place: Maria Berchiche, Mines Paris–PSL, France – “Planning CO₂ Infrastructure for Industrial Decarbonisation: A Spatial Approach to Network Deployment Across Europe.”
- 1st place: Susanne Hochmeister, Technical University of Leoben – “Decentralised CO₂ Sinks Based on Mineral Carbonation in Austria: Results from the DeCarbStore Project.”
- 3rd place: Michael Schüngel, University of Kassel, Germany – “EU Petrochemical Industry Pathways: Carbon Management and Circular Economy in a Cross-Sectoral Perspective.”
The awards are supported by INNIO, Kelag-Kärntner Elektrizitäts-Aktiengesellschaft and OMV.
Press images are available for download here: https://www.apa-fotoservice.at/galerie/40090
About NEFI
NEFI – New Energy for Industry was founded as an innovation network for industrial transformation and is funded as part of the ‘Vorzeigeregion Energie’ programme and the FTI initiative ‘Transformation of Industry’. NEFI develops key technologies ‘Made in Austria’ and is organised around a consortium comprising the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, the Technical University of Leoben, Energiesparverband Oberösterreich and the Upper Austrian business development agency Business Upper Austria. The network brings together a wide range of expertise in the field of energy research and project implementation. Significant support comes from the two industrially strong federal states of Upper Austria and Styria. The constantly growing consortium, which currently comprises over 165 partners from companies, research organisations and public institutions, is developing technological and systemic solutions across 55 projects designed to facilitate the energy transition in industry. The Climate and Energy Fund is supporting the NEFI projects with a total of 110 million euros, funded by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BM IMI). www.nefi.at