BilAI at the Technology Talks Austria 2026

16.09.2026

This autumn’s Technology Talks Austria focused on “Empowering Europe: Technological Leadership for a Resilient Future”, with BilAI Board Member Prof. Robert Legenstein among the experts discussing the future of research and technology in Europe.

Within the conference, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) organised a workshop on the topic “The Quest for Scientific Breakthroughs: Creating Attractive Conditions for Excellence.”

Prof. Robert Legenstein from Graz University of Technology presented the aims and recent results of the Cluster of Excellence Bilateral AI at the workshop. He was joined by Prof. Tracy Northup from the University of Innsbruck (Cluster of Excellence Quantum Science Austria), Prof. Thomas Pieber from the Medical University of Graz (Cluster of Excellence Metabolic Control of Ageing and Disease), Mark Thomson, Director-General of CERN, and Dr Paul Adam, Head of the Research Site Regional Center Vienna at Boehringer Ingelheim. The workshop was moderated by FWF President Prof. Christof Gattringer.

The panellists discussed which structures enable world-class research and how collaboration across institutional and national boundaries – within the scientific community as well as with industry and society – can contribute to scientific excellence.

Key questions included: What conditions are needed for groundbreaking discoveries? How can Europe strengthen its position as a global hub for excellent science and research? And what will it take to ensure that scientific breakthroughs “Made in Europe” become more frequent in the future?

Prof. Legenstein summarised his impressions of the workshop and conference:
”The topic of AI was present all over the conference. It is very clear that AI is a key technology for both science and industry and that Austria – within the European context – has to strengthen fundamental research as well as transfer to products and companies in this area. The Cluster of Excellence Bilateral AI is a good first step in that direction.”

For more information about the FWF workshop and the question “What Drives Cutting-Edge Research?”, visit the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) website.