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Technology Talks Austria - Austria's most relevant technology conference - will bring together more than 20 internationally renowned top speakers at the MuseumsQuartier Vienna on 11 and 12 September 2025 to discuss the central importance of research, technology and innovation for the competitiveness of Austria and Europe. The issues addressed in the keynote speeches and plenary sessions will be explored in greater depth or supplemented by related topics in a total of 14 workshops.
"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," explains Innovation and Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke.
Well-founded discussions on important future issues
"Europe's future prosperity depends largely on whether it succeeds in taking a leading role in key technologies. In the global competition for prosperity and influence, targeted strategies are needed to ensure that Austria and Europe continue to play a leading role in the future," emphasises Brigitte Bach, Managing Director of the AIT and Chair of the event's Board of Trustees. "In 2025, participants can once again look forward to a high-calibre programme that will showcase the contribution that research, innovation and technology can make to Europe's economic strength. This will result in well-founded, lively discussions on the most important issues of the future," explains Andreas Kugi, Scientific Managing Director of AIT and Chairman of the Scientific Programme Advisory Board.
From value chains and battery research to the promotion of talent
The first day of the Tech Talks is all about "Made in Austria": all workshops taking place on the first day of the conference (Thursday) will be hosted by Austrian research and technology organisations.
The following workshops will take place in parallel in the first time slot on 11 September from 3 to 4.30 pm:
Under the title "European Innovation Ecosystems - Key to Powerful & Strategic Value Chains" (in English), the Federation of Austrian Industries will deal with strategic priorities and measures of the EU's future research, development and innovation policy in order to ensure excellent ideas and technological expertise for powerful value chains. Collaborative research in particular plays a decisive role here, closing the gap between scientific breakthroughs, the development of future key technologies and (industrial) applications.
In the workshop "We make Europe strong - for a Union worth living in", the Lower Austrian business agency ecoplus will discuss the experiences of renowned companies in becoming more resilient and less dependent on the global market and raw material shortages through strategies for defossilisation and effective use of the circular economy in crises. A network of environmental pioneers is needed to continue to make life in Europe worth living.
At the Electronics & Software Based Systems Austria (ESBS-Austria) workshop "Making Europe Fit for a World of Global Competition", high-calibre representatives from industry, politics and business will discuss how research can be turned into marketable innovations. In order to ensure economic resilience, social progress and technological sovereignty, a close connection between research, innovation and market realisation is required.
In its workshop "Attracting Excellence: How Can We Succeed in the Competition for Scientific Talent?", the Austrian Science Fund FWF will be focussing on the global struggle for excellent minds. In order to remain attractive to top researchers, institutions, universities and the entire research ecosystem must ensure optimal conditions for scientific staff. The workshop will also present and discuss the most important results of an FWF survey of Austrian researchers.
Under the title "Batteries as the key to sustainable value creation - opportunities and potential", Joanneum Research is bringing together a high-calibre panel of experts to discuss batteries as a key element in the transition from fossil fuels to electrification. Technological trends and challenges, as well as opportunities and potential for the location, will be highlighted along the entire value chain.
At the workshop "Science2Business: How research results can be better translated into innovative products", the Council for Research, Science, Innovation and Technology Development (FORWIT) will present the results of a study on barriers to the commercialisation and scaling of research results. Key bottlenecks and strategies for overcoming these obstacles will be highlighted and discussed using concrete best practices.
Space for personal exchange and networking
In addition to the stage programme and the workshops, there are several side events and two formats that give young researchers a big stage: the TU Austria Innovation Marathon and the Falling Walls Lab Vienna. During the breaks, at the evening get-together and at the final farewell, there will also be plenty of space for personal dialogue and networking with the most important players in the technology scene.
The Technology Talks Austria will take place directly after the FFG Forum (on 10 September). Details on the programme and tickets (regular price: 240 euros, students 120 euros) can be found at www.technology-talks-austria.at.
Note to editors: A further mailing with the workshops in the second time slot on 11 September from 5 pm will be published on 20 August.