Release from
On 11 and 12 September, the Technology Talks Austria 2025 brought together renowned experts, visionary thinkers, innovative researchers and committed politicians and industry representatives in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier to discuss the central importance of research, innovation and technology for increasing the competitiveness of Austria and Europe.
With almost 900 participants over the two days, more than 120 speakers and a total of around 35 hours of programme in 2 keynotes, 6 plenary sessions, 2 young researcher events, 14 workshops, 6 side events, a get-together and an exhibition with 9 exhibitors, the topic of competitiveness was examined from various angles and proposals for improving the situation were developed.
Driving force for the innovation ecosystem
"The discussions clearly showed that research, technology and innovation are essential for Austria's and Europe's competitiveness and need further investment. It also became clear what framework conditions are needed to translate research results into practical applications more quickly and to help shape future technologies at the forefront," summarised Brigitte Bach, Spokesperson of the AIT Management Board and Chair of the event's Board of Trustees.
"The Technology Talks Austria 2025 are a strong and important source of inspiration for the innovation ecosystem and provide a central platform for dialogue on important future issues, this year in particular on competitiveness. We have spent two days discussing with the entire Austrian technology community - with valuable input and suggestions from international experts - and now it's time to take action," emphasises Andreas Kugi, Scientific Director of the AIT and Chairman of the Scientific Programme Advisory Board.
Improving competitiveness
Here are some key messages from the rich and well-founded debates:
- Artificial intelligence has the potential to become a driver of productivity. However, this depends on how successfully technology, human creativity and social responsibility can be combined.
- Europe must invest more in its own digital technologies and strengthen its digital sovereignty so that it does not remain permanently dependent on the United States or China.
- In order to achieve technological leadership in certain areas, Europe must work together intensively, develop joint strategies, pool its strengths and expand public-private partnerships.
- To increase resilience , Europe must focus on recycling and the efficient use of resources. This requires investment in infrastructure, research and innovation. With a circular economy, technological expertise and resilient supply chains, a sustainable and competitive future can be shaped.
- In addition to greater investment in research and innovation, better framework conditions are needed - in particular a stronger focus, faster decision-making, increased cooperation, less regulation, a single European market, targeted promotion of talent and momentum through appropriate ecosystems.
- Europe is lagging behind in many areas. It is not enough to become better - Europe must become better faster than the others.
- Europe needs a completely new understanding of the scaling-up of companies. It needs a European venture capital market.
- In order to survive in global competition, there is an urgent need in Europe to harmonise research, innovation, education and industry. There needs to be optimal coordination between the next European Research Framework Programme FP10 with the EU Competitiveness Fund and industrial policy.
- Austria's research and innovation system is not generating the expected output: "Carrying on as before" by simply increasing input will not lead to any improvement. Instead, Austria needs to further develop the structure of the system.
- System-wide coherence is crucial : the RTI pact, university budgets, tax incentives and EU programmes must be coordinated so that they act as a driver of innovation.
- Europe has excellent scientists, a very good education system, a rich pool of ideas and talent and a solid industrial base. It is important to build on these strengths in order to increase innovative strength and competitiveness.
Photos and downloads on the website www.technology-talks-austria.at
To review the Technology Talks Austria 2025, you can find photos of the plenaries, workshops, special events and networking events on our website www.technology-talks-austria.at. In addition, we are successively making selected presentations by the plenary speakers and workshop summaries available for download at www.technology-talks-austria.at/downloads. You will also find a highlights video there.
Listen to the ORF Science Arena: https://sound.orf.at/radio/oe1/sendung/225140/science-arena
Save the Date: Technology Talks Austria 2026 on 10 and 11 September 2026
After the conference is before the conference: The date for the Technology Talks Austria 2026 has already been set - they will take place on 10 and 11 September 2026 back to back with the FFG Forum in Vienna's Museumsquartier.
www.technology-tals-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: BMFWF, BMIMI, 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.