The central question of “Technology Talks Austria 2026”, which will take place this year on 10 and 11 September 2026 – back-to-back with the FFG Forum – at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, is: How can Europe translate scientific excellence into technological leadership, industrial strength, strategic autonomy and long-term resilience? Austria’s most significant research and technology conference, entitled “Empowering Europe: Technological Leadership for a Resilient Future”, follows a narrative arc that spans technological capabilities and infrastructure, through industrialisation and security, to sovereignty, framework conditions and innovation systems.
Workshops: From quantum technologies and health data to AI services
Embedded within a programme of international keynote speeches and plenary sessions, the afternoon of the first day of the conference will feature twelve workshops organised in collaboration with key players from the Austrian research and technology scene. These 90-minute sessions, taking place in two time slots from 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm respectively, will explore the plenary discussions in greater depth and complement them with related topics.
The following workshops will take place in parallel during the first time slot on 10 September from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm:
Under the title ‘Taking the Quantum Leap – How can Europe become the industrial powerhouse of quantum technologies’, the Federation of Austrian Industries , the Federation of Austrian Industries will address the question of how Europe can translate its outstanding scientific excellence in the field of quantum technologies into globally competitive products and scalable industrial applications, and how European value chains can be strengthened in an increasingly competitive international environment (in English).
JOANNEUM RESEARCH, together with its partners, is highlighting the theme ‘Mobility – the strong backbone of the Austrian economy!’. Within the Austrian mobility sector, technologies, products and services for the global market are being developed in line with research roadmaps and deployed across the automotive, rail and aviation sectors. Of particular importance here is the close collaboration between academic and non-university research institutions, various sectors of industry and infrastructure operators to drive forward and implement innovative solutions (in German).
As part of a new health focus in 2026, the Ludwig Boltzmann Society (LBG), Boehringer Ingelheim, Siemens Healthineers and Volkshilfeare hosting a workshopentitled ‘Health Data Quo vadis? From intelligent diagnostics to European data spaces’. With the European Health Data Space, health policy is increasingly becoming data policy – health data is becoming a critical resource and a central component of the healthcare infrastructure. Representatives from politics and public administration, social security, clinical practice, industry and research will discuss how Austria can actively shape the implementation of the European Health Data Space and ensure that electronic health data can be used across borders for medical care, research, innovation and the management of healthcare systems. (In German.)
The workshop‘Turning AI Potential into Impact: Services from AI Factory Austria AI:AT’ focuses on artificial intelligence. It is clear to everyone that AI is increasingly becoming a decisive competitive factor. However, many organisations lack the know-how to get started with its practical application. AI Factory Austria AI:AT demonstrates how Austria, as a European-wide, networked one-stop shop, brings together guidance, access to high-performance computing, technical expertise, trustworthy AI, training, business support and ecosystem networking. The workshop outlines the service pathway: from the initial idea through to proof of concept and finding suitable partners (in German).
Under the title ‘The Quest for Scientific Breakthroughs: Creating Attractive Conditions for Excellence’, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) will discuss how tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs are forged. In particular, the workshop will provide insights into the latest developments within the Clusters of Excellence – the largest research networks in Austrian basic research. Researchers from the fields of quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and ageing and health research will demonstrate the direction in which their disciplines are developing and which findings could shape the future. The discussion will focus on the framework conditions for scientific excellence and how Europe can further strengthen its research capabilities. (In English.)
Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), is bringing together a high-calibre panel of experts under the title ‘Collaborative Research as an Innovation Catalyst: How Research and Partnerships Accelerate the Path from Idea to Market’. Drawing on concrete perspectives from research, industry, SMEs and start-ups, the event will explore how collaborative access to infrastructure, expertise, data, test environments and partner networks can accelerate innovation. After all, innovation must not only be invented, but also tested, validated, certified, scaled up and integrated into value chains more quickly (in German).
Tickets for the top-level programme cost 250 euros
In addition to the plenary programme and workshops, there will be several side events and formats that provide a major platform for young researchers. During the breaks, at the evening get-together and at the closing farewell event, there will also be plenty of opportunity for personal exchanges and networking with the key players in the research and technology scene.
Technology Talks Austria will take place immediately following the FFG Forum (on 9 September). Make sure you secure your place in good time at Austria’s most relevant research and technology conference. Tickets are available at www.technology-talks-austria.at. The standard ticket price is 250 euros; students pay 125 euros.
Note to editors: A further press release detailing the workshops in the second time slot (10 September, from 4 pm) will be published next week.
Supported by the FTI community
Technology Talks Austria is organised by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology in close cooperation with the Federal Ministries for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), Women, Science and Research (BMFWF), Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), as well as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV).
High-calibre scientific advisory board
The following organisations are involved as scientific partners in the programme planning: acatech (German Academy of Science and Engineering), AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, the Christian Doppler Society (CDG), Forschung Austria, the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), TU Austria, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
Wide-ranging partnerships
On board as event partners are JOANNEUM RESEARCH/Province of Styria and TU Austria (TU Vienna, TU Graz, Montanuni Leoben). Partnerships have also been established with AI Factory Austria AI:AT, Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR), Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS), Austria Innovativ, Austria Press Agency (APA), ams OSRAM, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bosch, the Federal Ministry of Defence (BMLV), Die Presse, ESA Phi-Lab Austria, ESBS Austria, Gaia-X-Hub Austria, InnoRegio Styria, Innovation Salzburg, Kunsthalle Wien, Ludwig Boltzmann Society (LBG), message, Salzburg Research, Siemens Healthineers, Styrian Economic Development Agency (SFG), MuseumsQuartier Vienna, Neat, Industry 4.0 Platform, City of Vienna, Tecnet Equity, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), Association for the Promotion of Research and Innovation (VFFI), Volkshilfe and Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO).
Technology Talks Austria 2026
Date: 10 September 2026 – 11 September 2026
following the FFG Forum (9 September 2026)
Venue: MuseumsQuartier Vienna
Museumsplatz 1
1070 Vienna
https://www.technology-talks-austria.at