"The life sciences sector in Vienna is growing continuously. With our services, we support companies in advancing their ideas in exchange with network partners. As a business location agency, we ensure that life science pioneers in Vienna find optimal framework conditions for their innovation projects. Qualifications are particularly important here. The large talent pool and well-trained experts in Vienna are among the most important decision criteria for companies to do business here. That's why we at the Vienna Business Agency also focus strongly on promoting young talent in STEM fields. We do this in part through workshops for school classes and families," says Eva Czernohorszky, Head of the Technology Services Department at the Vienna Business Agency.
"What is special about our offers to school classes and families is that we work very closely with Viennese companies. Children and young people learn about actual Viennese inventions in our workshops and can become researchers themselves. We have a special workshop on Future Health. And we are always on the lookout for new corporate partners to join us in presenting Viennese ideas. In this way, we are always up to date and inspiring the young participants to pursue a career in the healthcare sector," says Kristina Wrohlich, team leader of the Technology Awareness team at the Vienna Business Agency.
Experience room arouses interest in research, technology and innovation
In the Vienna Business Agency's Future Health Workshops in the Experience Room, schoolchildren at age 12 to 15 learn about Viennese success stories from the life sciences. They also learn about careers in the health and innovation sector with a focus on biotechnology and medical technology. Role models provide insights into starting a career. The children and young people can also try on the role of inventors themselves and generate ideas for the future of medicine. Other workshops deal with GreenTech and IT. Offers for children from the age of 8 and weekend workshops for families round off the educational programs. Find the current dates here: https://wirtschaftsagentur.at/termine-events-workshops/nachwuchs/
Thanks to co-financing from the EU (JOBITY - Future Jobs in Innovation & Technology project, EU Interreg Austria-Czech Republic), these events can be attended free of charge.
Companies and research institutions from Vienna bringing the future to life
Objects, stories and role models play a central role in the transmission of knowledge. The Vienna Business Agency works together with a number of companies and research institutions from all over Vienna to give children and young people an understanding of research, technology and innovation using regional examples.
These include:
- Arkeon Biotechnologies: This Viennese start-up company uses microorganisms from the archaea group to convert CO2 into amino acids for food - a positive contribution to climate protection and nutrition. https://arkeon.bio/
- Aurimod: Pain relief without medication is the focus of this Viennese company. The minimally invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve in the ear provides lasting relief from chronic back pain and other forms of pain. https://aurimod.com/
- Lithoz: 3D printers from Vienna and the company's innovative ceramic materials turn visions into projects and the unimaginable into solutions - from industry to medicine, including dental technology, and far beyond. https://lithoz.com/
- Medical University of Vienna: Founded in 1365 as the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna, today MedUni Vienna is one of the largest and most renowned medical universities in the world and the largest medical training center in the German-speaking region. https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/
- myBioma: This Viennese company identifies over 1,500 types of bacteria in every stool sample and uses this information to create personalized recommendations for strengthening each individual’s microbiome through diet and lifestyle contributing to their better health and well-being. https://mybioma.com/
A role model is invited to each workshop to spend an hour talking to students about their day-to-day work and show them how to get a job. Insights from apprentices and career starters are particularly popular.
Would your Viennese company also like to send young employees who are at the beginning of their careers and can present their professions? Would you like to get the next generation interested in an apprenticeship in your company or motivate them to attend schools whose graduates have done well at your company? Can you imagine providing the Vienna Business Agency with illustrative material on your innovations for workshops? Then we invite you to contact Bernhard Melmer from the Vienna Business Agency's Technology Awareness team. Let's work together to awaken young people's fascination for research, technology and innovation. The time required usually involves two mornings per semester.
Understanding Science funding program
Do you want to make your scientific work accessible to a wider audience? If you’re looking to explain STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics in simple terms by organizing an event, presenting the results in a media format (such as a video or newsletter) or on social media, this is the right funding program for you. It provides support with payroll costs, costs for services – including fees for speakers or knowledge procurement – as well as travel expenses for speakers, hosts or lecturers, the purchase of machines or licenses, and the acquisition of intellectual property rights.
- Up to €60,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 15.5.2024 | 15.8.2024 | 15.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/foerderung-wissenschaft-verstehen/
Vienna Research Festival: March 21-23, 2025, Vienna City Hall
The Vienna Research Festival offers more opportunities for social engagement at the business location Vienna. The next event is planned for March 21-23, 2025, at the Vienna City Hall. As in the past, companies, research institutions and other organizations from Vienna are invited to present their R&D projects and innovations as part of a hands-on exhibition, and to exchange ideas with visitors. The Vienna Business Agency will open a call for exhibits in the second half of this year and will explain what is needed when designing exhibits for highly frequented events such as this one. Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date: https://viennabusinessagency.at/
futureEDUCATION Award
Every year since 2022, the Vienna Business Agency has presented the futureEDUCATION Award to the best educational concepts for promoting early childhood STEM education in Vienna. Prizes are awarded to both projects and bachelor's or master's theses that focus on how educators can awaken STEM enthusiasm in children. Another aim is to strengthen children's self-confidence in their abilities and to overcome gender-stereotypical prejudices. In addition, prizes are awarded for concepts that aim to reduce social inequality in the STEM field - even as early as in kindergarten and primary school. The awards are deliberately given to students at teacher training colleges in Vienna and to teachers at the beginning of their professional careers. The aim is to recognize their knowledge, inventiveness and commitment to STEM education at an early stage. Proposals can be submitted to the Competence Center for STEM and Digitality at the PH Vienna. For details see https://phwien.ac.at/aktuelles/futureeducation-award-2024/