Digital Transformation is not only changing our lives, but also has great potential to shape a more sustainable future. Digital technologies are enabling us to rethink traditional ways of working and processes, boost innovation and develop more environmentally friendly alternatives. Against this background, around 650 interested people gathered at Messe Congress Graz for this year's JOANNEUM RESEARCH Future Conference and Exhibition.
The green and digital transformation is inevitable. In order to remain globally competitive, it is important to strengthen the location through future-relevant innovations. Putting innovations into practice and thus generating tangible added value for the economy and society works best in an agile network such as the one in which JOANNEUM RESEARCH operates. The 4 top-ranked sessionsimpressed the audience in the morning with his presentation "The future of the energy transition - development paths between necessity and harsh realities": In order to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 and complete the green transformation, targeted technology development and system innovations are required. Transformative innovation policy focusses on the restructuring of systems in order to drive forward the circular economy, mobility transition, energy transition and climate neutrality in cities and municipalities, said Rose. The opportunities presented by crises should be seized. The top manager is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Energie Steiermark AG, a professor at the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology and an entrepreneur.
Keynote: The future of the energy transition
As one of the keynote speakers at the conference, Karl Rose impressed the audience in the morning with his presentation "The future of the energy transition - development paths between necessity and harsh realities": In order to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 and complete the green transformation, targeted technology development and system innovations are required. Transformative innovation policy focusses on the restructuring of systems in order to drive forward the circular economy, mobility transition, energy transition and climate neutrality in cities and municipalities, said Rose. The opportunities presented by crises should be seized. The top manager is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Energie Steiermark AG, a professor at the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology and an entrepreneur.
Keynote: Digital Highway
Jacqueline Erhart invited the audience on a journey along the "digital highway", as her presentation was entitled. The physicist drew a picture of intelligent mobility management for tomorrow, which is based on information and communication technology infrastructures that have been built up over decades and whose foundation is the digital recording of real, static and dynamic traffic situations. Advances in sensor technology, digitalisation and automation not only on the roads but also in vehicles and the targeted use of data science are the focus of this process. Erhart emphasised that both the human and the machine perspective must be understood and supported in digital twins.
Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Styrian State Councillor for Economy and Science
"This year's JOANNEUM RESEARCH Zukunftskonferenz is dedicated to the major issues of our time. The digital and green transformation not only present challenges but also numerous opportunities that we want to utilise. Research and development are essential for this. The JR team in particular plays a key role here. It is a key driver of innovation in future topics and supports local companies with practical projects to successfully master the current changes."
Gaby Schaunig, LHStv. and Technology Officer of the State of Carinthia
"Every year, the Future Conference provides an incredibly exciting look at current research hotspots. The state of Carinthia is also focusing its investments on the fields of green technologies and digitalisation. JOANNEUM RESEARCH is an important partner for the state and our innovative companies. With the establishment of a Digital Twin Lab, we were able to expand the JOANNEUM RESEARCH site in Klagenfurt this year with another cutting-edge research and development topic that is essential for the green and digital transformation."
Michael Gerbavsits, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland GmbH
"'Green and Digital Transformation' are the guidelines for the creation of Burgenland's new RTI strategy. By participating in JOANNEUM RESEARCH, we can draw on comprehensive expertise and an international innovation network and thus shape the catch-up process even better."
One highlight was the internal "Best Performance Award". The 14 finalists from the online pre-selection (43 projects were up for selection) presented their nominated projects in two minutes. The 7 winners then emerged from this.
