TOMORROWTODAY 03_2013 engl by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH

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11 TOMORROWTODAY NOVEMBER_2013

Developing the technologies, methods and tools of tomorrow

Innovation Systems:

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH USER EXPERIENCE í¢²í¢¶

MOBILITY

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR BATTERY DEVELOPMENT ALPBACH TECHNOLOGY FORUM 2013

WORKING GROUP RESULTS

SAFETY & SECURITY

CYBERLIFE 2030 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A SECURE DIGITAL FUTURE HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

SMART HOMES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

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➜ CONTENT/EDITORIAL

INTERVIEW WITH THE AIT MANAGING DIRECTORS

REVIEW: ALPBACH TECHNOLOGY FORUM 2013

Tomorrow Today presents the results of the key meeting point of Austria’s research, innovation and technology scene.

INTEGRATED PLANNING FOR INTELLIGENT CITIES

AIT scientists use their know-how not only to support Austrian cities in their transformation into Smart Cities, but also to guide Chinese megacities on their path to sustainability.

CYBERLIFE 2030 – A SECURE DIGITAL FUTURE

Who can we trust on the internet? How can critical IT and energy infrastructure be efficiently protected? AIT carries out numerous application-oriented research projects focusing on cyber security.

SMART HOMES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

Sophisticated technical assistance systems designed to suit the needs of older people can make it substantially easier for senior citizens to live longer in their own homes in safety and comfort.

A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH USER EXPERIENCE

The newly established business unit "Technology Experience' is reinforcing AIT's strength in systems competence by incorporating the experiences of technology users in projects.

ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR BATTERY DEVELOPMENT

Powerful and inexpensive batteries are the basis for the widespread acceptance of electric mobility – the experts in AIT's Battery Materials Laboratory are developing the fundamentals for the next generation of electrical energy storage in vehicles.

Photo: www.peterrigaud.com

EDITORIAL Today’s innovations need to offer more advantages than simply new technological capabilities in order to be successful. When developing and marketing innovations, we must understand the relationships within the complex systems involved in the relevant research area. In line with this strategic principle, research work at AIT focuses on infrastructure issues where our comprehensive systems expertise allows us to make an impact at both national and international level. In this issue of TOMORROW TODAY we’ll not only be keeping you up to date on the developments our scientists are currently working on, as they prepare us to face the “grand challenges” of tomorrow – this time we’ll also be inviting you to read in-depth reports about the content and discussions of the working groups at the Alpbach Technology Forum 2013. Each year leading personalities, young talents and future leaders, from business, science and politics, all come together in the small Tyrolean mountain village of Alpbach, to spend 3 days considering, and of course finding answers to, these grand challenges. Turn to page 6 for our review of the twelve working groups at the Alpbach Technology Forum. You’ll find AIT’s own answers to these challenges outlined in the interview with its two managing directors: on page 3, Anton Plimon and Wolfgang Knoll take a short look back, and offer a long view ahead. They explain where AIT strategy needs to be adjusted, and how they plan to drive internationalisation. One particularly visible case of readjustment was the transformation of the Foresight & Policy Development Department into the Innovation Systems Department. Manfred Tscheligi, who now strengthens Josef Fröhlich’s research team with his own experience in the increasingly important field of user experience, explains on page 26 why this was necessary. Please feel free to send us any questions you may have about articles in the magazine; our communications team is here to answer them for you. Michael H. Hlava Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications

INNOVATION CALENDAR

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

IMPRINT. The magazine Tomorrow Today is a media collaboration with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. Editorial responsibility rests with Austria Innovativ. Media owner and publisher_Bohmann Druck und Verlag GesmbH & Co. KG., 1110 Vienna, Leberstrasse 122, phone: +43 1 740 95-0. DVR: 0408689. Management_Gabriele Ambros, Gerhard Milletich. Publisher_AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Tech Gate Vienna, Donau-City-Strasse 1, 1220 Vienna, phone: +43 (0) 50550-0. Publishing manager_Patrick Lehnhart. Editors-in-chief_Michael Hlava, e-mail: michael.hlava@ait.ac.at, Christian Klobucsar, e-mail: klobucsar.zv@bohmann.at. Editors_Margit Noll, Daniel Pepl. Authors of this edition_Alfred Bankhamer, Angelika Prohammer, Doris Griesser. Project management_Daniel Pepl. Graphic design_Anita Frühwirth. Layout_Markus Frühwirth (REPROMEDIA). Print_ Druckerei Odysseus, Haideäckerstrasse 1, A-2325 Himberg. Cover shot_AIT. Publication_4 times a year. All copyrights reserved, including Section 44 paras. 1 and 2 of the Austrian Copyright Act. ISSN 1994-5159 (print), ISSN 1994-5167 (online). Free subscription via e-mail_cmc@ait.ac.at.

Inside

AIT STRATEGY „TWO POINT ONE“:

FOCUSSING ON GROWTH AND INTERNATIONALISATION /// Over the next few years the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is intending to develop into a central European contact point for questions on research into infrastructure systems. We asked the two AIT Managing Directors how they plan to achieve this. ///

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Inside

Tomorrow Today: With what you know today, would you have focused on the same areas of research when you started the comprehensive restructuring process six years ago? Anton Plimon: With around 1,100 employees, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is rather a small research institute by international standards. If we hadn’t focused on just a few select areas we could never have achieved our present market position. Wolfgang Knoll: Each of the five areas we focus on - Energy, Mobility, Safety & Security, Health & Environment, and Innovation Systems (formerly Foresight & Policy Development) - are found in the European Commission‘s current Anton Plimon /// AIT Managing Director „Our strategy expressly stipulates that AIT does not develop or market products and services on its own behalf. We leave that to our customers and partners.“

strategic programmes, including Horizon 2020, and in the „grand challenges“ specified in Austria‘s RTI strategy. So our strategy was right on target.

TT: If, as you say, AIT is internationally perceived as a small research institute, then how can it remain competitive on the global research scene? Plimon: By compensating for any lack of resources through cooperation. It is certainly true that we need to reach a critical mass in order to become internationally visible with our research topics. Research must therefore be undertaken within networks right from the outset. At the same time, our work also seeks to contribute to creating optimum framework conditions designed to strengthen Europe in global competition. This is demonstrated by the vast number of international research projects in which AIT is involved or even leads European consortia. In recent years we have been able to win key European projects. Knoll: Thanks to our strategic position and the associated international visibility this brings, we

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have risen to become key partners in the relevant networks. AIT‘s position in the global research community naturally also shines a positive light on Austria, something most advantageous for our domestic economy in many areas relevant to the future.

TT: AIT is well embedded within the global research network. However, you have recently decided to readjust the strategy. Why? Plimon: Strategies for Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) need to be adjusted constantly. At AIT, this takes place in 4-year cycles. This enables us to plan developments in a relatively concrete manner. And, of course, we must also further develop our established research topics. This involves analysing lessons learned and anticipating new possibilities. Knoll: We have learned, for example, that we have been much more effective in winning larger projects in areas where we have been able to enhance our systems knowledge in addition to our technological expertise. Consistently building up and extending systems expertise was, you might say, the greatest lesson we learned. For it takes an integrated viewpoint to understand what future technologies must be able to provide. Consequently, we have identified a range of interdisciplinary topics that will now be worked on across our departments.

TT: In Alpbach you announced recently that you plan to grow considerably in the coming years and internationally. How considerably? Knoll: This is no fanciful wish, but rather the response to the extremely positive development of our areas of research. This includes the successful positioning of the team and the strategic partnerships. Now the task is to strengthen those resources that are needed to tap into our full potential. We need to grow to reach the position for which we are striving in Europe. And we are ready for that. This potential for growth has already been identified by our shareholders and provides the basis for our growth course. Plimon: Naturally, our financing model will be maintained - that is 40 per cent basic subsidy, 30 per cent research funding, and 30 per cent con-

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Krischanz & Zeiller, Peter Rigaud c/o Shotview Photographers

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tracts from industry. This financial mix guarantees that, as well as undertaking industrial research, we can continue to extend our basic research and systems expertise in general.

lise these products and think up new concepts. TT: Yet AIT is certainly in direct competition with other research establishments, for example, in competing for research contracts.

TT: So growth to provide the shareholders with higher profits?

Knoll: We are talking here about „coopetition“. Naturally, we compete with other Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and universities, at a national and international level, for funding and to implement key projects. However, at the same time intensive collaboration with other

Plimon: No! Our aim is a black zero in the balance sheets. The profits we generate flow, in the first instance, into new research projects and into internationalisation activities. Our President of the Supervisory Board, Hannes Androsch, once said, very tellingly, that AIT is not a savings club. Obviously, we constantly strive to keep overheads to a minimum - to make available more funds for research.

TT: An increase in both financing and personnel will be required. What do the staffing numbers for 2015 look like?

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Krischanz & Zeiller, Peter Rigaud c/o Shotview Photographers

Inside

Knoll: We are currently limited in areas for which we can‘t find the necessary specialists. So we need to make greater efforts in the international competition to attract highly qualified researchers and scientists - through joint PhD programmes with universities, for example. The career models we have specified are still insufficiently well known internationally. We must be more pro-active in this respect.

Wolfgang Knoll /// AIT Managing Director „We have seen that we have been much more effective in winning larger projects in areas where we have been able to enhance our systems knowledge in addition to our technological expertise.“

research establishments is vital. Cooperation between basic and applied research helps achieve the necessary critical mass, and it makes it possible to address new technologies and developments. ///

Plimon: It is difficult to find the necessary key players for the „grand challenges“ which have been identified, as these candidates are naturally highly sought-after throughout the world. Recruiting next generation scientists, high potentials and top researchers will become an ever more decisive factor in the face of international competition.

TT: Talking about competition; does AIT also market the research results it generates in fields other than contract research for business? Plimon: ur „products“ include, for example, expertise, prototypes, algorithms and model libraries for infrastructure systems, all of which we use in various ways, together with partners, to develop practical products or services. We don‘t go as far as producing the finished product available for purchase from stock, but we do offer the appropriate R&D environment needed to rea-

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Further details: Michael H. Hlava, Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications, Tel.: +43 505 50-4014, e-mail: michael.hlava@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at

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Alpbach Technology Forum: THE RESULTS /// Many decisions concerning research strategy made by Austria‘s federal government over the past years have been based on ideas generated during the Alpbach Technology Forum. Read about the approaches to possible solutions which were suggested at this year‘s event on the following pages. ///

●● ALPBACH TECHNOLOGY FORUM The Alpbach Technology Forum initiated and organised by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology in cooperation with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF/Ö1) is held annually during the Alpbach Forum in Tyrol. On 22 August, leading figures from business, science and politics met for three days during numerous plenary events and working groups in order to find answers to the challenges which will soon have a marked impact on our society. The general theme of the event was „Future Innovation: Conditions - Experiences - Values“.

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WG 1: THE VALUE CHAINS OF THE FUTURE

This working group focused on deliberations concerning a sustainable value chain that strengthens Europe‘s competitiveness and extends it globally. What could the value chain look like in the future? What are the challenges and opportunities it offers? How to optimise it from the view of business? How can the innovation system be used to achieve this? The focus of the first contribution was on value chains in Europe and the opportunities for the young: Europe only has one major resource, and that is its „brightest minds“. The opportunities for Europe‘s younger generation are inextricably

Photos: Klobucsar

The following is a short summary of all the results of the national technology scene‘s most important meeting. The full-length version is available at www.ait.ac.at/ATG2013.

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linked to their education, enabling them to use their potential to contribute positively to the value chain. But who is actually responsible for our next generation‘s future? This is a challenge that needs to be met by society as a whole. From a business viewpoint, the focus lies in international value chains. Specialisation, expansion into the international market, and legal and business framework conditions are all literally forcing cooperation with other companies. In particular, when it comes to implementing complex projects it is no longer sufficient to simply follow individual steps along a linear value chain. Instead, this demands the extremely networked and interconnected, parallel processing of several subprojects. China‘s role in the global economy was also analysed. With advancing economic growth, and changing locational and global economic conditions, China is faced with the challenge of developing from a transition country into an industrialised country. It has defined clear innovation targets in its 5-year plans. The foundations for emerging US reindustrialisation were also outlined. This included discussions of the impact of US technology drives on America‘s future position in the global market. A further topic was how, in future, intelligent productive machinery will be merged with the IT systems of operative control systems. A consequence of this increased automation is a change in the role of humans as decision-makers in the control process. Future IT systems will have access to significantly more data than they have today. Such a „global language“ of production only appears possible when there are efforts to standardise production and logistics.

Photos: Klobucsar

WG 2: TO DEVELOP THE FUTURE

In the working group „To develop the future – Tomorrow‘s Innovation as Exemplified by International Leading Enterprises“, initiated by the VFFI (Association for the Promotion of Research and Innovation) and the Federation of Austrian Industries, high-level representatives from leading, researchintensive, international enterprises discussed ideas about the future in terms of their relevance over the long-term and their probability of occurrence. This was followed by a discussion of the theses by all working group members. It was established that leading enterprises in Austria are responsible for 75 per cent of overall R&D expenditure in the private sector, supplying the majority of the innovative products and services on the market. In the

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Alpbach Review

WK 1: THE VALUE CHAINS OF THE FUTURE Martin Kugler (Chair), Editor Science, Die Presse, Vienna; Sabine Herlitschka (Introduction), Chief Technology Officer, Infineon Technologies Austria AG, Villach; Lisa Marie Forstner PhD Candidate, Institute of Enterprise-wide Software Systems, FernUniversität in Hagen; Kurt Gruber Corporate Vice President, Corporate Supply Chain, Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg; Christian Kesberg Austrian Trade Commissioner, Austrian Trade Commission New York, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, New York; Markus Klein Student, Institute of Computer Aided Automation, Participant in the TUtheTOP Program, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna; Hermann Mattanovich Member of Executive Board, Frequentis AG, Vienna; Lars Mönch Professor for Enterprise-wide Software Systems, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Hagen; Birgit Murr Counselor and Head, Science and Technology Section, Austrian Embassy Beijing; Günther Wellenzohn (Coordination) Head, Innovation Management, Infineon Technologies Austria AG, Villach

WK 2: To Develop the Future Giovanni Franco Chair) Founder and CEO, ICA (Italia) Istituto per la Creatività Applicata S.r.l., Milano; Gerhard Riemer (Introduction) Head of Education, Innovation & Research, Federation of Austrian Industries, Vienna; Anton Mayer Vice President Corporate Engineering and Research & Development Europe, Magna International Inc., Oberwaltersdorf; Wolfgang Pell Chief Research Officer, Head, Competence Center Innovation, VERBUND AG, Vienna; Pierre Schlosser Advisor, Energy Policy & Generation (Renewables), EURELECTRIC – Union of the Electric Industry, Brussels; Peter Schwab Head of Research & Development, voestalpine AG, Linz; Monika Sturm Senior Manager, Sustainable Cities, Siemens AG Österreich, Vienna; Erwin Toplak Chief Operating Officer, Kapsch TrafficCom AG, Vienna; Marlis Baurecht (Coordination) Division Resources & Infrastructure/Innovation & Technology, Federation of Austrian Industries, Vienna

field of the „Grand Challenges“ in particular approaches are subject to huge tensions generated by shorter product cycles and rapid growth in the Asian markets. The working group‘s discussions focussed primarily on society‘s future demands on individual transport, materials, energy networks and ICT. There was widespread agreement that the research strategies would need to take into account both changing paradigms and legal framework conditions. According to the speakers, the latter in particular can function both as a stimulus and an obstacle to the future establishment of advanced technologies in the market. WG 3: SMART CITY – PATHWAYS TO FUTURE URBAN MOBILITY

Cities are the motors of innovation. Since 2012 more people now live in urban than in rural areas, and consume 75 per cent of resources. Challenges such as climate change can only be overcome in cities. The primary goal is to maintain high living standards in urban regions. Thus, the task of public

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Alpbach Review

WG 3: SMART CITY – PATHWAYS TO FUTURE URBAN MOBILITY Paul Tesarek (Chair) Editor-in-Chief, Vienna Regional Studio, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, Vienna; Bernhard Engleder Head, Municipal Department 28 – Road Management and Construction (MA 28); Chairman, ITS Vienna Region, Vienna; Andreas Knie Managing Director, Innovation Centre for Mobility and Societal Change; Head of Business Development, DB FuhrparkServices, Berlin; Gerald Murauer Head of Corporate Technology Central Eastern Europe (CEE), Siemens AG Österreich, Vienna; Gabriele Payr Director General, Wiener Stadtwerke Holding AG, Vienna; Martin Russ Managing Director, AustriaTech – Federal Agency for Technological Measures Ltd., Vienna; Paul Verhoef Head of Unit, New and renewable energy sources, Directorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, Brussels; Veronika Haunold (Coordination) Chief Executive Officer, TINA Vienna Urban Technologies & Strategies GmbH, Vienna

WG 4: FRONTRUNNER, A NEW APPROACH IN RTI POLICY Michael Binder (Chair) Director Strategy, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Vienna; Rupert Pichler (Chair) Head, Department III/I 2 – Research and Technology Funding, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Vienna; Thomas Heimer Professor, Innovation Management and Project Management, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden; Scientific Advisor, Technopolis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt am Main; Norbert Mühlburger Managing Director, WESTCAM Datentechnik GmbH, Mils bei Hall; Wolfgang Polt Director of Centre for Economic and Innovation Research – POLICIES – JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Graz/Vienna; Klara Sekanina Director of the Secretariat, CTI – Commission for Technology and Innovation, Innovation Promotion Agency, Bern; Heinz Seyringer Head of Research Collaborations, Zumtobel Group, Dornbirn; Mario Steyer (Coordination) Department III/I 2 – Research and Technology Funding, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Vienna

administrations is to organise transport systems so that they are fit for the future and help ensure quality of life. Future transport problems in a smart city will no longer be solved by expanding infrastructure but by improving and optimising existing services. Intermodal mobility concepts serve to make transport systems highly networked. Cities must decide the role they wish to assign new modes of transport, such as electric mobility. Attitudes, such as wishing to own one‘s own car, have fundamentally changed. For those under the age of 30, owning a car is less of a status symbol than it once was. In future, mobility will involve less private ownership and greater availability of public mobility systems. Cooperative models for the future of urban mobility only function within networks. Smart regions play an important role in this context. A focus is placed on issues such as the future of energy generation: energy must be generated where it is needed. The difference between city and rural regions remains. In urban areas, carsharing models will be the norm for future city life. A smart city can only be regarded within the con-

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text of a smart region, as the challenges are ones of organisation rather than technology. Above all this requires regulatory standards that permit some level of flexibility. The necessary platform for this can be provided at European level, ensuring that experiences are shared between Europe‘s smart cities. WG 4: FRONTRUNNER, A NEW APPROACH IN RTI POLICY

Austria has come through the financial crisis in good shape. In addition to labour market policy, participation in, and a focus on, the innovative power of industry and industrial research has created a stable environment. The presence of frontrunners and dominant niche players indicates significant differentiation between technological fields, as well as awareness of the importance of quality and a deep commitment to research & development and constant innovation. A frontrunner company is characterised by being a top 3 market leader, a technology leader and competitive in price and quality in its markets. The success of these companies lies in the quality of their products, the ability to generate technical innovations, and qualified employees - they strive for quality leadership. Frontrunners are also confronted with obstacles to their innovation efforts: long development times, high economic and technological risks, the lack of partnerships for innovative collaborations and internal organisational problems. In Switzerland „basic funding“ outweighs competitive funding. In Germany the funding landscape is strongly fragmented, and funding is available at federal, regional and local level. Germany‘s general RTI problems are similar to those in Austria. From the standpoint of frontrunner companies, funding systems in Austria, Germany and Switzerland are the best in Europe. The greatest problem, however, is implementing systemic innovations and encouraging young SMEs to innovate. Any potential (new) solution must boost technological openness and, above all, provide financial support by strengthening internal financing. WG 5: THE POTENTIAL OF THE ALPS: FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

Sustainable regional development and resource use in the Alps has become an intensively discussed research topic over the past 30 years. Last year the importance of alpine development as established in the Rio Declaration of 1992 was reaffir-

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med. Therefore six of the working group‘s contributions focused on the subject of mountain research in general, the economics of the common good, biomass production chains, timber as a material, the contribution of the international MAB (The Man and the Biosphere) research project to sustainable regional development, and sustainable research in a global context. It began with an ecological excursion through the landscape of the Inneralpbachtal with Federal Minister Karlheinz Töchterle, Slovenia‘s Science Minister, the Swiss State Secretary for Education, and the Governor of South Tyrol. The 50 participants welcomed the four ministers‘ initiative for strengthening multilateral cooperation in the field of mountain research with its focus on the sustainable use of resources as well as Minister Töchterle‘s announcement that EUR 4.7 million would be made available for an Earth System Science call as the first step in strengthening this cooperation. At the end of the event the participants agreed that future cooperation should not be divided up by subject matter, but should rather follow a research structure which takes an interdisciplinary approach to investigating the past, present and future of the Alps, communication with experts and global networking in the three fields of climate, nature and quality of life. WG 6: THE POTENTIAL OF ICT TOOLS IN OPEN INNOVATION PROCESSES

The Federal Ministry of Economy‘s working group examined diverse „open innovation“ concepts from both a theoretical and practical standpoint. Open innovation requires companies to identify external innovation stimuli and then implement these innovations in partnership with other innovators. This often requires a profound change process in a company‘s innovation culture. Efficiently generating and implementing innovations are a decisive factor in business success. This increasingly involves incorporating external knowledge and resources via so-called open innovation processes using ICT tools. The working group participants also discussed „user creativity“ as a resource, which is determined by the mass of users, but also requires a rethinking of business policy in terms of open innovation. It was also shown how Siemens AG successfully uses ICT tools to support the open innovation process. A special focus was placed on the vision of a globally networked marketplace. It was noted that ICT tools are an indispensable

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Alpbach Review

WG 5: THE POTENTIAL OF THE ALPS: FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES Axel Borsdorf (Chair) Professor, Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck; Director, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck; Karlheinz Töchterle (Welcome) Federal Minister for Science and Research of the Republic of Austria, Vienna; Astrid Björnsen Gurung Scientific Program Manager, MRI Mountain Research Initiative Europe, Institute of Geography, University of Bern; Georg Grabherr Vice-Director, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck; Christian Hoffmann Senior Researcher, Institute for Regional Development and Location Management, EURAC – European Academy, Bolzano; Pavel Kabat Director and CEO, IIASA – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg; Nike Krajnc Head, Department for Forest Technique and Economics, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana; Alfred Teischinger Professor, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln; Cooperation Platform Forest-Wood-Paper (FHP), Vienna; Karolina Begusch-Pfefferkorn (Coordination) Head, Department II.4a – Ecology, Resource Management

part of innovation processes extending far beyond company boundaries, and that they will play an even greater role in the future. One of the greatest challenges of the future is to make these tools available to SMEs, and not just large businesses. It was also discussed whether innovation success can be planned, how ICT tools can help in this, and whether open innovation is the desired solution. One thing is certain, when it comes to innovation, it is the needs of end customers that are important, not what is technically possible. Accordingly, open innovation competitions are an excellent source of solutions. WG 7: WEB ATTACK! THE FIGHT AGAINST HACKERS AND DATA LOSS

Working group 7 discussed the limits for online users and companies, and to what extent our indispensable cyberspace can be designed securely. An WG 6: THE POTENTIAL OF ICT TOOLS IN OPEN INNOVATION PROCESSES Maria Bendl (Chair) Head, Department C1.10 – Research and Technology, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, Vienna; Nikolaus Franke Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna; Michael Heiss Corporate Technology, Innovation and Technology Management (CT TIM), Open Innovation and Scouting, Siemens AG Österreich, Vienna; Gertraud Leimüller Founder and Chief Executive, winnovation consulting gmbh; Chairwoman, arge creativ wirtschaft austria, Vienna; Manfred Moormann Head of Department Public Sector, Healthcare & Partner Management, A1 Telekom Austria AG, Vienna; Eveline Pupeter-Fellner Managing Director, emporia Telecom Produktions- und Vertriebs GesmbH & CoKG, Linz; Klaus Puchbauer-Schnabel (Coordination) Staff Member, Department C1.10 – Research and Technology, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, Vienna; Jürgen Rattenberger (Coordination) European and International Programmes, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Vienna

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Alpbach Review

important precondition is to create awareness about security when dealing with personal and private data on the internet, for criminals are increasingly using botnets to secure control of private computers and incorporate them into their own criminal networks. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new policing strategies to effectively fight cybercrime at national and international level. The first step is to train specialists in combating cybercrime. A team at the Vienna University of Technology has specialised in hacking into systems and documenting their vulnerability. There is great demand for such specialists, for those who perfectly understand how to attack are those who also know how to protect. Danger not only lurks in the internet, but also from internal company networks. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to dealing with authorisations, implementing security systems and the relevant security infrastructure within organisations. SMEs in particular often have no suitable security structure in place and are defenceless in the face of attacks on their digital company data. It was noted that security standards should be statutory and even monitored by controlling bodies, otherwise security systems will not be used sufficiently for cost reasons. A secure internet can only be achieved through openness and interoperability. Criminal activities online can be suppressed if national and supranational regulators set binding rules stipulating that all internet service providers should design their algorithms in order to ensure interoperability with other systems. The most imWG 7: WEB ATTACK! THE FIGHT AGAINST HACKERS AND DATA LOSS Walter Seböck (Chair) Head, Management and Economics Department and EGovernance and Administration, Danube University Krems; Petra Bohuslav (Introduction) Member of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Technology and Sports, St. Pölten; Ian Brown Associate Director, Cyber Security Centre; Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford; Adrian Dabrowski Researcher, SBA Research, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna; Johann Haag Deputy Rector, Head, Course on IT Security and Information Security, University of Applied Sciences, St. Pölten; Leopold Löschl Head, Department V/V 2 – Computer and Network Crime, Criminal Intelligence Service Austria, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Vienna; Hartmut Müller Managing Director, Raiffeisen Software Solution und Service GmbH, Vienna; Ruchna Nigam Computer Virus Analyst and Security Researcher, Fortinet Threat Research and Response Center, Biot; Ireen Christine Winter Study Programme Director, Economic and Cyber Crime, University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt; Project Coordinator, ALES-Austrian Center for Law; Claus Zeppelzauer (Coordination) Division Head Companies & Technology, Department Head Technopols, ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria, St. Pölten

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portant players must be offered economic incentives to improve the security of their systems. Not control, but rather a reduction in weak points and improvements to usability are the key to keeping cyberspace secure over the long term. It is also vital to raise awareness of the importance of handling data securely. This will require cooperation at global level in the field of criminal prosecutions and unified security standards. WG 8: INDUSTRY 4.0 – IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF WORKING LIVES

The fourth industrial revolution initiated by the Internet of Things, offers a competitive advantage through increased efficiency in production industry. However, it also creates economic, social and organisational challenges. In this connection, changing demands in the world of work, greater product individualisation and shifting factors of global influence are all playing a role. The nature of work in 2050 inevitably will be very different from today. The working group identified five trends that will influence future employment: technology, the gap between needed skills and those the workforce can provide, geographic and demographic mismatches of job availability, growing pools of untapped talent and alternative currencies such as Bitcoin. Furthermore our jobs will also change: from production jobs (2020+) to transaction jobs (2030+) and then to interaction jobs (2040+). The long-range jobs challenge is not only restoring jobs lost to recession but understanding how work is changing and finding ways to prepare as many workers as possible for the jobs of the future. The vision of the Internet of Things postulates that objects of our daily life interface with the physical world thus closing the gap between the real world and its virtual counterpart. Transferred to industrial production the Internet of Things definitely can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of industrial processes. This opens up major opportunities for European companies in terms of development, manufacturing and selling technologies for industrial networking. The key to develop the production in a given region is to utilise all possibilities of technical innovative solutions combined with a focus on the competence, experience and involvement of the human resources. Since newly-industrialising countries are catching up and because global production networks are using and diffusing state-of-the-art-

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technologies, the industrial sector of high wage countries is in permanent need to develop the capabilities of people and organisations. The secret of success is based on fostering cooperation and engaging different types of employees, hierarchical levels and experts from different functional departments in process development activities. In terms of work and labour, work-life issues, remote working / telework and flexibility in working time are amongst the main policy options that can give a competitive edge to firms. WG 9: GREEN TECH: VISIONS AND BUSINESS OF ECO-MOBILITY

Demographic development, urbanisation, globalisation, scarcity of resources and climate change are the megatrends of the 21st century and consequence of human lifestyles. In view of these trends, sustainable business - also for mobility - is not only increasingly important but also the basis for economic success, social cohesion and protection of the natural environment. Designing the transport sector for the transition to a low-carbon economy, for example, requires innovative ideas and technologies for eco-friendly, climate-friendly and affordable mobility. Representatives from industry, research and public bodies discussed eco-mobility from the perspective of technology, resources and infrastructure, as well as economics and legislation. This also included an examination of social framework conditions as well as ethical aspects. Based on the definition of eco-mobility as a lowemission, affordable and sustainable form of mobility combined with renewable energy sources, rising market forecasts for sustainable mobility need to be considered in its various facets and promising market segments need to be identified and exploited. These range from increases in efficiency and emission reductions, alternative fuels and alternative drive technologies to traffic control and transport infrastructure. Above all the key is to expand infrastructure for alternative fuels. The issue of the ethical aspects of mobility was also broached, highlighting how ethical considerations can and should influence the implementation of eco-mobility at the various levels of production, distribution and reception. Excerpts from key statements: It is imperative to increase the energy efficiency of all processes - this is the most cost-effective source of energy. Diversifying energy sources minimises the risk of local

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Alpbach Review

WG 8: INDUSTRY 4.0 – IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF WORKING LIVES Gerhard Klein (Chair) Head of Department PC Production Central, MAN Truck & Bus AG, Munich; Doris Hummer (Introduction) Member of the Provincial Government of Upper Austria responsible for Education, Science and Research, Women and Youth, Linz; Michael Strugl (Introduction) Member of the Provincial Government of Upper Austria responsible for Economic Affairs and Labour, Linz; Alan Christie Senior Lecturer, Business Institute, University of Ulster; Franz Hammelmüller Managing Director, SKF Österreich AG, Steyr; Klaus Huttelmaier Managing Director, Robert Bosch AG, Vienna; Martin Kuhlmann Scientist, Sociological Research Institute Goettingen, Georg-August-University, Goettingen; Jochen Schlick Deputy Head of Research Innovative Factory Systems, German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Kaiserslautern; Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay Director of the CURA on work-life balance over the lifecourse; Canada Research Chair on the socio-organizational challenges of the Knowledge Economy, Téléuniversité, Université du Québec, Montreal; Anke Merkl-Rachbauer (Coordination) Head of Location.Marketing.Communications, TMG OÖ. Technologie- und Marketinggesellschaft m.b.H., Linz

and political dependencies. There must be mandatory goals and political demands for industry to build the new infrastructure needed for alternative fuels. Eco-mobility has far-reaching impacts, including on urban planning as it will influence not only the design of roads and transport routes but also future residential planning. WG 10: IDENTITY 2.0: DIGITAL HUMAN

The speakers from the working group initiated by Research Austria agreed: when online, there is always a trade-off between benefit and danger. Awareness is important because information remains permanently online. There is ambivalence between scepticism about data storage and the voluntary publication of sensitive data. The legal aspects are certainly complex, as the internet is subject to a variety of legal systems and jurisdictions. The European Court of Human Rights recognises two equally valid but often colliWG 9: GREEN TECH: VISIONS AND BUSINESS OF ECO-MOBILITY Johann Fank (Chair) Scientific Director, Resources – Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Graz; Jost Bernasch Managing Director, Virtual Vehicle Competence Center, Graz; Walter Böhme Head of Innovation Management, OMV AG, Vienna; Martin Faulstich Managing Director, Clausthaler Umwelttechnik-Institut GmbH, Clausthal-Zellerfeld; Leopold Neuhold Head, Institute of Ethics and Social Thought, University of Graz; Wolfgang Steiger Director, Future Technologies/ Global Government Affairs, Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg; Ursula Zechner Head, Department IV – Transport, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Vienna; Sonja Kranz (Coordination) Strategic Planning, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Graz; Aldo Ofenheimer (Coordination) Head, Organization, Business Development and Marketing, Virtual Vehicle Competence Center, Graz

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Alpbach Review

ding principles: freedom of the press and freedom of speech often conflicts with the opposing party‘s right of honour. Austria‘s Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) deals with around 10,000 cases of cybercrime each year but believes this to be only a fraction of the true crime rate. According to the BKA, internet training and awareness of cybercrime should be taught in schools and taken as seriously as subjects such as road safety education. The extent to which the internet is democratic was also discussed; the four previous state powers - legislative, judicial, executive and the media - are now supplemented by the general public, and this has an inevitable impact on the system. One threat to democracy is referred to as „slacktivism“ (slacker and activism), suggesting that people tend to vote faster and with less thought when online. WG 10: IDENTITY 2.0: DIGITAL HUMAN Gerald Gross (Chair) Founder and Director, gross:media e.U., Vienna; Ivona Brandic Assistant Professor, Distributed Systems Group, Information Systems Institute, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna; Stefan Bumerl Managing Director, CRYPTAS it-Security GmbH, Vienna; Thomas Corsten Professor, Department of Ancient History, Classical Studies and Epigraphy, University of Vienna; Sebastian Eschenbach Head, Department of Economics, University of Applied Sciences, Eisenstadt; Friedrich Faulhammer Rector, Danube University Krems; Gerald Ganzger Lawyer, LANSKY, GANZGER & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Vienna; Franz Lang Deputy Director General for Public Safety and Director, Criminal Intelligence Service Austria, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Vienna; Christian Klobucsar (Coordination) Editor-in-Chief, Austria Innovativ, Bohmann Druck & Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Vienna

It was also noted that a current major challenge is the enormous quantities of data. How can I use this flood of data? For cloud computing, for example. This might be an efficient means of dealing with ecological and economic factors, as data is not bound to any physical location. After water, gas, electricity and the telephone, cloud computing could become the „5th utility“ of the modern age. However, this segment is currently only at a development level comparable with having to carry water home from the well. In addition to internet security, the key subject raised during the public discussion was that of striking a balance between the greatest possible level of security on the one hand, and maximum individual freedom on the other. The panel guests agreed that this is a balance that individuals must find for themselves, but that there need to be institutions to provide clear guidance.

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WG 11: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

The working group discussed, amongst others, whether the current patent system can still secure intellectual property rights and thus increase competitiveness and prosperity. A current survey was quoted which identifies non-disclosure, developmental edge or other protective mechanisms as being more prevalent in most high-technology sectors. This means that companies regard R&D results as a better means of protection than patents. Even so, for young, technology-savvy companies in particular, securing knowledge via property rights is „essential to survival“, because patents play a decisive role when it comes to finding investors. Within the framework of an EU project, the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) is currently developing the first parameters to establish how valuations of property rights can be integrated into bank lending in future. Ever since attaining complete legal autonomy, universities have increasingly focused on commercially exploiting their research results. Yet there is often a lack of venture capital and business know-how. Consequently, it would be desirable to establish regional transfer centres to improve cooperation between stakeholders and as a contact point for industry. After almost 40 years of negotiations, international agreement has finally been reached on a EU patent, which will substantially facilitate patent protection across the EU. With the establishment of the Unified Patent Court, decisions regarding patent infringements and revocation actions will be valid in all EU member states. Conclusion of the working group: intellectual property is not an end in itself but rather the basis and stimulus for any innovative activity in the market economy, and thus a precondition for economic growth, prosperity and success. The discussion made it clear once again that Austria must use innovative ways to better capitalise upon its IP capital, both nationally and internationally. WG 12: SECURITY RESEARCH: FUTURE FOR A SECURE SOCIETY

Security research is a relatively new research area and at EU level often creates socio-political controversies and accusations of a failing market. Despite these challenges, Austria has succeeded in becoming a successful innovation leader in the field of security research, also regarded as a precursor to

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rapidly growing global markets of the future. The speakers highlighted this positive result from the standpoint of their own areas of expertise – politics, economics, technology and the social sciences. During lively discussions the various strengths and weaknesses of the concept of security research, and the resulting consequences, were addressed and critically discussed with the active participation of the audience. The Austrian security research philosophy is reflected in the KIRAS funding programme, which only supports projects involving players from business, research and (public or private) end users. The primary goal must be to increase objective security as well as the subjective sense of security as experienced by citizens. It was noted that early investment into a flexible research system such as open innovation is a decisive factor in the success of Austrian security research. With regard to „technology versus social policy“, the working group members agreed that successful security research requires the enlightened perspective of the humanities, social and cultural sciences in close cooperation with the technical and engineering sciences. During the closing discussion it was established that security research is of key importance for society, enabling it to solve new challenges through innovation, although the complex nature of security makes it difficult to convey to a wide audience. Finally, the speakers unanimously warned that successful security research is only possible when the necessary resources are made available. ///

Alpbach Review

WG 11: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Friedrich Rödler (Chair) President, Austrian Patent Office, Vienna; Jürgen Antonitsch Chief Technology Officer, ZIZALA Lichtsysteme GmbH, Wieselburg; Bernhard Dachs Senior Scientist, Research, Technology & Innovation Policy, Foresight & Policy Development Department, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna; Christoph Ernst Assistant Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Berlin; Sonja Hammerschmid Rector, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna; Bernhard Henhapel Patent Attorney, Kliment & Henhapel Patent Attorneys OG, Vienna; Edeltraud Stiftinger Managing Director, Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH, Vienna; Eveline Ronge (Coordination) Ronge marketing_communication_event, Vienna

WG 12: SECURITY RESEARCH: FUTURE FOR A SECURE SOCIETY Karl Blecha Karl Blecha (Chair) President, GFF – Society for the Promotion of Research, Vienna; Gernot Grimm (Introduction) Head, Staff Group for Technology Transfer and Security Research, DG III – Innovation and Telecommunication, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Vienna; KarlHeinz Dernoscheg Managing Director, Defence & Security Industry Group, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Vienna; Gi-Eun Kim Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Seokyeong University, Seoul; Council Member, Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development, Vienna; Reinhard Kreissl Scientific Director, Institute for the Sociology of Law and Criminology, Vienna; Helmut Leopold Head of Safety & Security Department, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna; Helmut Schnitzer Head, Security Policy Department, Secretariat of the National Security Council, Austrian Federal Chancellery, Vienna, Michael Brugger (Coordination) Staff Group for Technology Transfer and Security Research, DG III – Innovation and Telecommunication, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Vienna; Ralph Hammer (Coordination) Staff Group for Technology Transfer and Security Research, DG III – Innovation and Telecommunication, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Vienna

Further details: Michael H. Hlava, Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications, Tel.: +43 505 50-4014, e-mail: michael.hlava@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at

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➜ Energy

INTEGRATED PLANNING FOR INTELLIGENT CITIES /// AIT provides decision-makers with scientifically sound concepts and methods for designing a sustainable energy system for their city, municipality or region. ///

Vienna plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 per cent and increase the use of renewable energies to over 50 per cent by 2050. As part of the TRANSFORM project, AIT is developing the relevant decision-making aids for implementing the measures necessary to realise these goals.

WHILE OUR CLIMATE FACES THREATENING CHANGES, our cities continue to grow, as do their

●● IN A NUTSHELL The term ‚Smart Cities and Regions‘ designates the transformation of energyintensive cities and regions into places of sustainable living and economic development. Numerous initiatives at national and European level act as guidelines for lowering energy consumption and CO2 emissions whilst increasing energy efficiency and quality of life. The researchers at AIT follow an integrated approach to investigate the complex interactions between the individual elements of urban and regional energy systems. This know-how is based on many years of interdisciplinary research and is used not only to support Austrian cities in their transformation into Smart Cities, but also guides Chinese megacities on their path to sustainability.

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energy consumption and the related CO2 emission. In the EU cities already account for around three quarters of our entire energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The European Union is therefore placing special emphasis on innovative energy concepts for cities and regions to achieve its ambitious energy and climate protection targets. By 2020 it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent, to increase the share of renewable energy to 20 per cent, and to raise energy effici-

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ency by 20 per cent. Achieving these ‚20/20/20 targets‘ would be a big step on the way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent (compared to 1990) by the year 2050. This is an ambitious goal, which can only be achieved by fundamentally restructuring urban and regional energy systems. A consistent ‚Smart Cities and Regions‘ focus is set to promote the increased use of renewable energy, high levels of energy efficiency and effective energy management. In addition to optimising and implementing sustainable technologies, special emphasis needs to be placed on intelligent networking of all the stakeholders and infrastructures involved in urban and regional energy systems, including energy suppliers, transport and urban planners, architects and individual citizens. Buildings, for example, will be transformed from energy consumers into energy producers using photovoltaic systems, solar collectors, wind turbines and optimised insulation. Waste heat from industrial processes will no longer remain unused in cities and regions of the future, and the thermal and power networks will be designed to accept energy from distributed renewable sources and efficiently distribute it in the form of electricity, heat or cooling. Consequently, the EU‘s European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan gives greatest priority to the integrated planning of sustainable cities and regions. COMBINED EUROPEAN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) was founded in order to increase Europe‘s innovative potential in the energy sector. This association of leading European research institutions has set itself the task of combining EU research resources, pursuing joint strategies and avoiding a duplication of efforts. Over the past years AIT has succeeded in attaining a leading position at European level thanks to its Smart Cities expertise. At the end of 2011 the AIT Energy Department initiated and took on the scientific leadership of the EERA Joint Programme Smart Cities which involves more than 60 European research institutions. This European research programme focuses on integrated energy planning for cities and transformation processes, urban energy networks, energy-efficient buildings and technologies for sustainable energy supply. „Method development and technology integration in an urban context are especially important when

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Energy

modelling and optimising the complex energy systems of the future as comprehensively as possible“, explains Reinhard Schütz, Business Developer at the AIT Energy Department. INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES

The EU project TRANSFORM, with a budget of around €7.5 million, involves 19 (research) institutions and companies from seven countries working on strategies for successfully transforming six major European cities into ‚Smart Cities‘: Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Genoa, Lyon and Vienna. Individual concepts for implementing various measures are developed for selected districts in these cities, taking into account the particular legal, administrative, economic and social framework conditions in each city. Reinhard Schütz /// Business Developer, Energy Department „Method development and technology integration in an urban context are especially important in modelling and optimising the complex energy systems of the future as comprehensively as possible.“

Within this project AIT develops a Decision Support Environment for this purpose, which builds on the interactive „Energy Atlas+“, a simulation tool which uses interactive maps to analyse the measures necessary in the entire city, specific city districts or for individual types of buildings. The impact of these measures is estimated by applying a spatially explicit model indicating what Smart City targets can be achieved to what extent. Intensive efforts are also underway at national level to achieve the 20/20/20 goals. In fact Austria is the first European country with active government support for the Smart Cities and Regions concept. With its Smart Energy Demo – FIT for SET programme, the government supports concrete demonstration projects for energy efficiency and CO2 reduction in Austrian cities and regions, thereby enhancing their contribution to the EU‘s SET Plan. AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR VIENNA

Smart City projects are currently running in 21 Austrian cities, half of them using AIT know-how for their strategy development. The capital has set

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Energy

Wolfgang Loibl/// Senior Scientist, Energy Department „By means of a simulation model we can show where efficiency measures need to be taken to achieve the desired CO2 reduction.“

itself particularly ambitious targets of an 80 per cent reduction in CO2 and raising the use of renewable energy to over 50 per cent by 2050. This should be possible by taking measures at many levels, including the increased use of renewable energy supply, insulating buildings and continued expansion of the public transport network. „As part of the TRANSFORM project we are currently developing a relevant decision-making aid for Vienna and other major cities, so that those responsible can identify the most effective measures from a range of available options“, explains AIT Senior Scientist Wolfgang Loibl. „By means of a simulation model we can explore where, to what extent, and in which combination, sustainable energy technologies and the required efficiency measures need to be used to achieve the desired CO2 reduction „. AIT also supports other Austrian towns and cities in their Smart City processes, including Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, Bregenz, Graz, Amstetten, Wörgl, Villach and Bruck an der Mur. Loibl is convinced that, „Along with a step-by-step transformation of energy systems, the project is set to initiate a process of awareness in these cities which will bring far-reaching changes over the medium and long term“.

Research services Energy concepts for cities, regions & countries In the planning of urban energy systems a special focus needs to be placed on efficient energy use, integration of renewable energy sources and the development of flexible and optimally dimensioned energy infrastructure for the smart distribution of decentralised energy. Practical concepts for Smart Cities and energy strategies for regions or entire countries include all stages of the transformation process, from vision definition and strategy development in the form of a roadmap through to implementation on the basis of action plans. AIT has sound expertise and longstanding experience in all relevant technological, strategic and organisational areas - knowledge which benefits both municipal administrations and urban planners in transforming cities into Smart Cities and which also provides the basis for energy strategies at regional, national and European level. ■■ Development of strategies and action plans for smart cities and regions ■■ Development of integrated concepts for energy-efficient design, revitalisation or redevelopment of urban districts ■■ Spatial (GIS-based) analysis of energy use in urban districts or entire cities and modelling of future scenarios ■■ Scientific support in the preparation of national and European energy roadmaps. ///

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AIT‘s reputation as an experienced advisor for achieving a sustainable energy future has even reached as far as China, the country in which the number of megacities is growing fastest. The AIT Energy Department was commissioned to develop a Low Carbon City Action Plan for the city of Nanchang and its 5 million inhabitants. This project is intended to demonstrate how an intelligent overall energy concept can lead to a significant reduction in CO2 despite enormous population and economic growth. The measures have been developed together with local scientists and public bodies and impact almost all aspects of urban life, from Hans-Martin Neumann /// Engineer, Energy Department „AIT has been tasked with developing an energy concept and providing scientific recommendations for the Su-Tong Eco-Business Park in China.“

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology/Krischanz & Zeiller, Stadt Wien/PID/Michelle Pauty

CHINA GOES ECO

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Energy

energy supply, to buildings and industry, right through to mobility. The Su-Tong Eco-Business Park is another cooperative project in China and a best practice example of sustainable industrial park development. „This 10 square kilometre area, part of the Su-Tong Science and Technology Park close to Shanghai, will be built according to relatively strict sustainability criteria“, reports urban planner Hans-Martin Neumann, Engineer at the AIT Energy Department. „AIT has been tasked with developing a corresponding energy strategy and providing scientific recommendations for energy-efficient building standards, the structure of an ecological industrial cluster and a sustainable city design“. An ideal opportunity to demonstrate Austrian sustainability and energy planning expertise in a setting which is particularly attractive for investors and enterprises. ///

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology/Krischanz & Zeiller, Stadt Wien/PID/Michelle Pauty

VIENNA‘S MAYOR, Michael Häupl ON THE CHALLENGES FOR 21ST-CENTURY CITIES Vienna regularly appears near the top in both European and global Smart City rankings. What is the basis for this leading position? It is based on consistent policy with a strong focus on protecting resources and sustainability, on the work of people in the city and motivated municipal employees. Together we have made Vienna what it is today: an attractive place to live, one rich in culture, and also smart. We started very early on to consider the challenges for cities in the 21st century and, looking back, we set the right priorities. We promoted key areas vital to the future, such as science, research and innovation, and strengthened the economy in a targeted manner. At the same time it is important to be careful with the resources available to us. After all, climate change brings a severe scarcity of natural resources. To manage this situation we need to use the latest information and communications technologies to network the available know-how from all urban areas. We have always regarded this combination as intelligent – and today we call it ‚smart‘. I‘m convinced that, over the long term, only cities which meet Smart City criteria can guarantee a high standard of living. As one of the 21 Austrian FIT for SET cities, Vienna has set itself very high sustainability targets for the next years and decades. What steps have been taken to achieve an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, for example?

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Further details: Energy Department, Michaela Jungbauer, Tel.: +43 505 50-6688, e-mail:michaela.jungbauer@ait.ac.at, Web: http://www.ait.ac.at/ energy

It involves a whole bundle of measures, embedded in a long-term strategy which impacts all aspects of urban life. However, one focus is increasing energy efficiency, both of buildings and in the transport sector. The urban energy efficiency programme which was launched in 2006 will enter a second phase in 2015. This includes the increased use of renewable energy and information and communication technologies. The decisive factor is the interplay between all these factors and an integrated perspective. We certainly intend to maintain our pioneering role in research and technological development and our position as an environmental role model at the European level.

What are the actual benefits for Vienna‘s inhabitants? New and innovative solutions which make everyday life easier. In the field of mobility, for example, this means expanding the public transport system. Thanks to the excellent infrastructure, Vienna‘s citizens can make most of their journeys in the city using public transport. When it comes to residential construction, solar technologies and low energy standards help reduce heating costs. Or look at developments in the e-government sector, with barrier-free online access to around 200 services. What do you think predestines AIT as a professional innovation partner for implementing sustainable energy systems? The Smart City process requires targeted cooperation between public and private bodies, between Vienna’s municipal administration, research institutions and businesses. As Austria‘s largest non-university research institution, AIT has proven its worth as a partner. The products of its research provide an important basis. ///

For more information: http://smartcity.wien.at

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➜ Safety & Security

Cyberlife 2030 – A SECURE DIGITAL FUTURE /// Who can we trust on the internet? How can critical IT and energy infrastructure be efficiently protected? And how can the perpetrators be tracked down? AIT carries out numerous application-oriented research projects focusing on cyber security and also co-organised the KSÖ Security Congress, which provided international experts with an ideal platform for discussion in Vienna in mid-September. ///

HOW WILL THE WORLD LOOK IN 2030? One thing is

for certain - our society has undergone a radical change over the last few years as a result of the digital revolution. In an increasingly networked world, this transformation raises many questions about clear digital identities and the security of new systems. These issues were explored during the 3rd Security Congress organised by the nongovernmental association ‚Kuratorium Sicheres Österreich‘ (KSÖ), which was attended by 900 participants in Vienna on 12 September 2013. ANSWERS URGENTLY NEEDED

●● IN A NUTSHELL Electronic support is making the world ever smarter and more networked. The Security Congress 2013 organised by the independent security association KSÖ was based on the motto of ‚Cyberlife 2030‘ and brought together 900 participants in Vienna to explore the new security requirements we are facing. The digital revolution has brought about some radical changes over the last few years thanks to the wide-ranging possibilities of the World Wide Web, but has also led to a jump in cybercrime. Smartphones, smart grids and the new smart living in networked homes require new security concepts. The congress involved an intense discussion and security check of issues like smart living, cloud computing, big data, digital identities, participation and egovernance.

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The rapid growth of internet crime, often resulting in substantial damage, demonstrates that urgent action is required. Today the crime scene is usually the classic internet: in 2012, 79% of Austrians had a fixed line internet connection (including smartphones, this figure far exceeds 100%). According to the Internet World Stats, there were around 2.4 billion internet connections in use across the world in 2012 compared to 361 million in 2000. And the expansion of the World Wide Web looks set to continue. More and more mobile devices, TVs, machines and energy networks are now tapping into the global communications system. In addition to classic cyber security, this has given rise to new issues such as the security of smart grids. The transition to smart metering is underway across the EU. „Communication and energy

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are our nervous system. Without them nothing works,“ says Helmut Schwabach, Senior Engineer at the AIT Safety & Security Department. The increasing use of private smartphones in companies (Bring Your Own Device), cloud-based data storage and services and driverless cars, which will soon navigate our roads using GPS, networks and intelligent cameras and sensors all require new security concepts. This increased networking is unstoppable. It offers enhanced comfort and efficiency as well as more weak points for hackers and cyber criminals to exploit. There are no exact figures on cybercrime but major global IT security companies estimate that there are over 1 million victims each day. Given the complicated international links involved in internet crime and the lack of global legislation, detection rates are low. Often the perpetrators go unpunished. DIGITAL SECURITY - A CROSS-CUTTING ISSUE

The internet is increasingly shaping all aspects of life. The range of issues addressed at the 2013 Security Congress which took place under the motto of ‚Cyberlife 2030‘ was suitably broad. Numerous participants from the worlds of finance, science, administration and politics discussed the latest and future developments in society up until 2030. „We have long been a guest at the Security Congress but this time we were able to provide scientific support and assistance,“ says Schwabach. Initiatives such as the KSÖ (a non-governmental independent association which represents a national networking and information platform for the internal security sector) and partners such as the AIT (a leading research institute in the applied research field which has strong ties with the national and international research and scientific community) help Austria to reinforce and secure its position as a research and business location in the long term. ‚VIRTUO-REAL‘ WORLD

This year, there was a clear focus on the future outlook. Issues such as smart living (how safe and secure is the comfortable and fully-networked world?), cloud computing, big data, digital identities, participation and e-government were subjected to a security check. „We have long abandoned the strict divide between the real and digital world. The two worlds have blurred into one another. We now live in a ‚virtuo-real‘ world,“

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Safety & Security

says Franz Einzinger, Head of Section I at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior (BM.I). The Cybercrime Report 2012 published by the Federal Criminal Police Office revealed that this is also generating new challenges of a less pleasant nature: over 10,000 offences were statistically documented for the first time in Austria. And of course, many more probably went unreported. One thing is for certain: new technologies create new security requirements both from a political, economic and societal viewpoint. The case study ‚Cyberlife 2030 - a secure technological future‘ by Karl Rose, a Professor at the University of Graz, took a look into the future. 100 international experts examined the security risks of 19 future technologies such as cloud computing, biometric data and 3D printers. According to this study, the future will be fully networked and humans, devices Helmut Schwabach /// Senior Engineer, Safety & Security Department „There is currently a high degree of naivety and ignorance when it comes to the use of social media platforms. So there still remains much to be done in the fields of awareness building and education in society.“

and sensors will form part of an all-encompassing network. This also harbours many risks. Companies in particular and especially SMEs are required to grapple with these new technologies in order to properly assess their security risks. The cyber security issue now represents a fast-growing market which offers some substantial business opportunities for both industry and SMEs. BIG DATA IN THE CLOUD

One of the key trends is known as big data, i.e. often real-time use of vast quantities of data stored by companies or on the internet, for example for market analyses. Oxford Professor Viktor MayerSchönberger gave a keynote speech on this subject and presented both the big opportunities and potential misuse involved, such as false interpretation and manipulation. One key challenge here is to adapt data protection to the new technologies. The second keynote speech by Christian Klezl, a security expert at IBM, looked at the security of cloud-based technology.

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Safety & Security

AIT SECURITY RESEARCH The AIT Safety & Security Department is active in numerous national and international security research projects, such as: Border security and automatic border control: ■■ FBC - Future Border Control (national, KIRAS*) ■■ FastPass - A harmonized reference system for EU automated border crossing points (EU) ■■ MobilPass - A secure, modular and distributed mobile border control solution (EU) Cybersecurity: ■■ CAIS – Cyber Attack Information System, CIIS - Cyber Incident Information Sharing (national, KIRAS*) ■■ PRECYSE – Prevention, protection and reaction to cyberattacks on critical infrastructures ■■ ECOSSIAN - European Control System Security Incident Analysis Network (EU) Smart Grid Security: ■■ SG2 – Smart Grid Security Guidance (national, KIRAS*) ■■ Sparks – Smart Grid protection against Cyber attacks ■■ HyRim - Hybrid Risk-Management for Utility Providers (EU) Crisis and Disaster Management: ■■ Re-Acta - Resilience Enhancement by Advanced Communication for Team Austria (national, KIRAS*) ■■ CRISMA - Modeling crisis management for improved action and preparedness, ■■ EPISEC - Establish Pan-European Information Space to Enhance security of Citizens, ■■ C2-Sense – Interoperability Profiles for C2 Systems and Sensor Systems in Emergency, ■■ DRIVER – Driving innoVation in crisis management for European Resilience (EU) ///

The congress centred around three big panel discussions and a concluding discussion where the overall aim was to stimulate a broad public debate involving representatives from all stakeholder groups. The participants of the ‚Smart Living of the Future‘ panel, led by Helmut Leopold, Head of AIT Safety & Security Department, included Philipp Irschik (Energie-Control Austria), Manfred Litzlbauer (Energie AG OÖ ), Josef Pichlmayr (IKARUS), Oliver Schmerold (ÖAMTC), Wolfgang Schwabl (Telekom Austria), Alfred Veider (Thales Austria) and Markus Schaffhauser (ATOS). The discussions on cloud computing and big data attracted comments from experts in the IT and telecommunications companies and from the Federal Criminal Police Office, while experts from the ministries, Federal Chancellery, city of Vienna and Federal Computing Centre discussed the issues of digital identities, participation and egovernance. The concluding discussion involved an intense debate about the three most urgent security requirements which will be triggered by new technologies in Austria by 2030 from a political, economic and social viewpoint. In her final statement, Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner emphasised the importance of ensuring that technological achievements are used and designed in a secure and pro-active manner. ONE-STOP SHOP FOR SECURITY RESEARCH „Over the last few years, we have been able to establish a strong position as a research partner for application-oriented research projects,“ explains AIT security expert Helmut Schwabach. „It is especially important to bridge the gap between research and business“. Austria is very well positioned in the field of e-governance and has played an internationally leading role in this sector for many years. The Digital Land Register was introduced as early as the 1980s, for example, and Austria also plays a pioneering role in e-health no wonder then that Austria has been leading the EU e-governance rankings since 2006. An efficient, reliable and secure infrastructure forms the basis for all these new services and features created by networked smart living, including in our private lives. AIT applies its wide-ranging expertise in this field to ensure that new administration, telecommunications, energy and transport technologies are secure. Collaboration with all of the sectors involved is essential to the success of such broad initiatives. This means that initiatives such as the KSÖ and other platforms like

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Krischanz & Zeiller, www.123rf.com, BMI

* the project is/has been funded by the Austrian security research programme KIRAS of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit).

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Safety & Security

the ‚Innovation Platform for Security‘ and research programmes like KIRAS and the new EU ‚Horizon 2020 Security Programme‘ are very important. AIT plays an active role in many national and international research projects in the field of cyber security, secure smart grids, security in cloud computing environments and border security (see info box). There is no shortage of interesting research topics. The increased blurring of the virtual and real world, the distribution of sensor networks and supporting technology for all areas of life are set to raise lots of security questions for the future. ///

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Krischanz & Zeiller, www.123rf.com, BMI

Kurt Hager, HEAD OF THE OFFICE FOR SECURITY POLICY AT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR (BM.I), DISCUSSES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SECURITY CONGRESS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF APPLIED SECURITY RESEARCH. Mr Hager, this year‘s Security Congress 2013 organised by the KSÖ explored life in the digital age. What are the most important security requirements these days as seen by the BM.I? Global internet use is constantly increasing. More and more people will have access to the internet and the information and applications supplied here, and the internet is increasingly spreading into people‘s everyday lives due to an ever faster and denser networking of objects and applications (Internet of Things and Pervasive Computing). This development is also fuelling a massive increase in the use of mobile internet, social media and the development of new forms of payment and financing (crowd funding, digital currencies). Advances in sensor technology and machineto-machine communication are changing our physical environment and leading to the creation of new concepts such as intelligent transport which will involve a networking of information and control processes with autonomous vehicles. There is no end to this rapid technological development in sight. All of these developments and issues such as cloud computing, big data, predictive analytics, radio frequency identification (RFID), biometrics, digital identity and 3D printers generate opportunities, yet also harbour risks. The fast-paced technological developments relating to digitisation, networking and globalisation are increasingly affecting the state, economy and society. Cyber security and data protection are presenting us with substantial challenges. At the same time, citizens have increasingly high expectations when it comes to the speed and user-friendliness of the services offered by authorities and institutions. The issue of cyber security and the associated risks and dangers are ever-present. Of course, this also applies to our own systems at the BM.I. One particular challenge for the BM.I. is the substantial growth in cybercrime. Reports of internet crime increased from 2,711 in 2008 to 10,231 in 2012. During the first half of 2013, 6,413 cases were reported. A further increase is to be expected due to a growth in police prevention measures targeting the dangers of the internet. BM.I has responded to this development by set-

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Further details: Safety & Security Department, Michael Mürling, Tel.: +43 505 50-4126, e-mail:michael. muerling@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at/ ict-security

ting up the Cyber Crime Competence Center (C4) at the Federal Criminal Police Office, a training initiative for ‚cyber investigators‘ operated in collaboration with universities of applied sciences like Hagenberg, and by carrying out security research projects. But the fast-moving pace of technological development often means that we can only ‚react‘ to existing developments rather than make a proactive attempt at reducing risks and threats.

How has the security industry changed in Austria and what role does research play in this context? In my view, Austria has an internationally competitive security industry. In order to keep pace with the international scene, innovation and networking with international partners are required. Research plays a key role in this respect. The European Security Research Programme, formerly FP7 and now Horizon 2020, places a special focus on this networking between European partners. Non-university research institutions such as AIT act as catalysts in this cross-border development of cooperation between business and users. AIT plays this role very successfully, as the latest success figures show. Applied security research is a key issue at AIT and various KIRAS research projects have already been launched and completed (NB: KIRAS is the Austrian funding programme for security research). How do you assess the expertise of AIT in this sector? AIT has proven to be a reliable and highly competent partner for handling KIRAS projects in the field. The BM.I particularly benefits from AIT‘s experience in project management, from project development to the processing, assessment and application of the research results. In addition to these management skills, AIT also offers key expertise in the fields of image processing, data analysis etc. AIT‘s strength in the research sector is to translate the results of fundamental research into practical application in line with user requirements. How does collaboration with AIT work? It is fantastic! Mr Leopold has built up an exceptional team who are capable of working in a trusting relationship with the BM.I. For a security organisation like the BM.I, trust is an essential part of the collaboration. We are even starting to exchange experts to gain a better understanding of each other‘s organisational logistics and management processes. We already have a very close collaboration but there is scope for expansion. We need to work on this together. Our collaboration with AIT is a model which we want to apply to other comparable institutions, step by step. ///

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➜ Health & Environment

SMART HOMES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING /// Sophisticated technical assistance systems designed to suit the needs of older people can make it substantially easier for senior citizens to live longer in their own homes in safety and comfort. AIT is focusing its expertise in a variety of disciplines to develop customised ambient assisted living (AAL) solutions for older people. ///

●● IN A NUTSHELL While our society is growing ever older, we are also seeking to constantly improve our quality of life. Almost everyone wants to live independently for as long as possible, safe and comfortable in their familiar surroundings. This is an understandable wish, which research can fulfil by developing new Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) systems. AIT is also committed to the ‚major system‘ of AAL technologies to identify, and ideally prevent, potentially dangerous situations in domestic settings. Furthermore, these systems also support the elderly by helping them manage their everyday lives, from organising help in emergencies to reminding them to switch off the hob, or facilitating contact with family and friends.

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1.9 MILLION AUSTRIANS ARE OVER THE AGE OF 60 and in 20 years that figure will have grown to almost three million. Most wish to live an independent life for as long as possible. But how can this be achieved, without risks to health or safety? Who should help in the case of emergency or assist with daily tasks? Many projects at EU level are tackling the challenges of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). One such is the RelaxedCare (Unobtrusive connection in care situations) pro-

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Health & Environment

Press conference on smart homes: AIT researchers equip sheltered housing units operated by the Samariterbund in Burgenland with the latest technology. Photo from left to right: Provincial governor Hans Niessl, Michaela Fritz (Head of AIT Health & Environment Department), Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann, Reinhard Hundsmüller (Federal Secretary of the Samaritans in Austria, ASBÖ), Innovation Minister Doris Bures.

ject, coordinated by AIT, which focuses on supporting informal care attendants and caregivers. The aim is to provide an intelligent system which enables carers to continually ascertain whether the person being cared for is safe and doing well. NOT ALONE IN AN EMERGENCY

The basis for this safety system is a range of integrated sensors which monitor specific daily activities, making it possible to draw conclusions about a person‘s state of well-being; a bed sensor under the mattress can register whether someone went to bed or got up at the usual time, for example. Where the data indicates a marked divergence from usual routine, family can be informed as and when necessary. „In this project we are trying to minimise the extent to which older people need to interact with the system,“ says Andreas Hochgatterer, Senior Expert Advisor and Coordinator of AAL activities at the AIT Health & Environment Department. „Ultimately, we are

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also concerned with providing families with the comfort of knowing that their relative is well, and that they can be there quickly in an emergency.“ How, and by what means, carers should be kept Andreas Hochgatterer /// Health & Environment Department „We are striving for a ‚system in a box‘, which is simple to use and can be marketed by interested companies.“

informed is still being evaluated. The possibilities range from a lamp changing colour in the event of a major deviation from the norm to a mobile phone app. The RelaxedCare project is supported not only by research institutions but also by enterprises and user-groups, and therefore the

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needs of all the stakeholders are being considered during the development stage. „In principle we are striving for a ‚system in a box‘, which is simple to use and can be marketed by interested companies,“ underlines Hochgatterer. In order to ensure its marketability, four international companies collaborate on this project by developing prototypes and marketing strategies. 50plus GmbH in Salzburg acts as an interface with future users in ascertaining the real needs and reservations of senior citizens, which constitute essential input for development work. MORE FLEXIBILITY AND SAFETY

Many national research projects are also focused on ambient assisted living in old age. In 2008 the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) launched the ‚benefit‘ programme, with the Austrian Research Funding Agency FFG supporting relevant projects. Now, for the first time, the practicality of ‚smart homes‘ for independent living in old age is being tested on a large scale. „Nowadays we are no longer concerned only

Research services

about developing the necessary technologies, but also about integrating them into interactive systems which can be implemented on a larger scale in senior citizens‘ flats and houses,“ explains Michaela Fritz, Head of the AIT Health & Environment Department and President of AAL Austria, an innovation platform for intelligent assistance in everyday life. This is the aim of the moduLAAr project, coordinated by AIT, which involves equipping 50 sheltered housing units operated by the Samariterbund in Burgenland with AAL technology. „The experience we gain in the process will influence future planning and implementation, and is intended to create the basis for a standard Michaela Fritz /// Head of Health & Environment Department „Nowadays we are no longer concerned only about developing the necessary technologies, but also about integrating them into interactive systems.“

application for AAL technologies,“ says Fritz. This involves the key aspect of communication with the inhabitants, with the central focus being a realistic evaluation of their needs and readiness to use the new technologies.

AAL – Ambient Assisted Living Behaviour pattern recognition and analysis AIT develops innovative solutions for the sensor-based detection and analysis of changes in behaviour patterns to support medical experts in the early diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. ■■ Development of self-learning algorithms and models for detecting and analysing patterns of activity and detecting critical situations ■■ Evaluation and trend analysis of raw data over extended periods ■■ Development of reminder and assistance systems Open platforms for AAL services The ‚middleware‘ is the backbone of any AAL application and ensures smooth data exchange. AIT investigates standardised, modular and expandable platforms for this purpose. ■■ Design of standard-compliant middleware platforms for the integration of different sensors, components and services ■■ Participation in the development of international AAL standards Intelligent user interfaces AIT develops intuitive user interfaces, which facilitate interaction with assistance systems and increase their usability and acceptance. ■■ Investigation and evaluation of new user interface concepts ■■ Development of new NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies for the intuitive interaction with AAL and eHealth systems ■■ Use of photorealistic avatars to enhance the acceptance of AAL technologies ■■ Integration of existing user interfaces into middleware platforms ///

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THE HOME AS A SAFE COMFORT ZONE

What does a ‚smart home‘ look like? „The integrated AAL technologies include safety and comfort functions as well as medical ancillary services,“ reports A AL Coordinator Andreas Hochgatterer. For example, a motion detector in the bathroom registers whether the resident leaves the bathroom after the usual length of time. Where this is not the case - which might possibly indicate a fall - and the resident does not respond to a subsequent enquiry about their condition, the system makes an emergency call to a control centre and informs the carer. The system is operated via a simple-to-use tablet computer, a technology which has already achieved high levels of acceptance. The tablet is also used to give reminders to take medicine or for important appointments, to put out the lights or to order meals. It also includes an electronic health diary which automatically records blood pressure, blood sugar or weight measurements and transfers the data

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology/Krischanz & Zeiller, 123rf.com, APA-Fotoservice/Tanzer

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Health & Environment

to a health database where they can be accessed by the patient‘s doctor.

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology/Krischanz & Zeiller, 123rf.com, APA-Fotoservice/Tanzer

A QUALITY OF LIFE WHICH LOWERS COSTS

Thanks to its easily upgradable multi-functionality, the ModuLAAr ‚easier living‘ system can also be used to communicate with friends and relatives, for example via video-telephony using the tablet computer. „The modular nature of the technology allows us to meet the user‘s individual needs by configuring or extending the system as required,“ says Hochgatterer, indicating a key advantage of the smart home installation. The residents have no reason to be concerned about the security of their data: it is the users themselves who determine who will be informed in an emergency, and who should be allowed to view their records in case of need. But what about the cost of such a complex system? „Considering that a place in a care-home costs several thousand euros a month, the outlay for an ‚easier living‘ starter package very quickly pays for itself,“ the researcher says. Being able to live just one year longer in one‘s own home brings both an improvement in the quality of life as well as appreciable savings for the health system. „Demographic change or the social and personal benefits of such a technology alone are insufficient arguments for industry“, says Andreas Hochgatterer, „and so we are also developing promising business models together with our partners.“

proach to this complex subject. A high degree of systems competence and a holistic approach to the major technical, societal, social and economic challenges are the hallmark of AIT‘s research, and form the basis for a wide range of successful projects. ///

Thanks to its easily upgradable multi-functionality, the ModuLAAr ‚easier living‘ system can also be used to communicate with friends and relatives.

MAJOR SYSTEMS AT AIT

Ambient Assisted Living is one of the most significant concerns for the future, its success directly dependent on bringing together interdisciplinary expertise. Consequently, several departments at AIT will be working on AAL systems in future, guaranteeing a sophisticated and integrated ap-

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Further details: Health & Environment Department, Zlata Kovacevic, Tel.: +43 505 50-4406, e-mail: zlata.kovacevic@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at/health_ environment

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➜ Innovation Systems

A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH USER EXPERIENCE /// The newly established business unit „Technology Experience‘ is reinforcing AIT‘s strength in systems competence by incorporating the experiences of technology users in projects. Manfred Tscheligi tells Tomorrow Today what possibilities user experience has to offer. ///

Swiping, clicking, moving, speaking – social acceptance of future technologies is primarily dependent on a well-devised interface. AIT experts are conducting research into the interface between people and technology.

●● PERSONAL DETAILS Manfred Tscheligi manages the newly founded Technology Experience business unit of the AIT Innovation Systems Department and is a University Professor for Human-Computer Interaction & Usability at the University of Salzburg (Center for Advanced Studies and Research in Information and Communication Technologies & Society, Department of Computer Sciences). He is responsible for the Human-Computer Interaction & Usability working group and for the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Contextual Interfaces. He is also the founder of CURE (Center for Usability Research & Engineering).

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Professor Tscheligi, you are an expert in usability and a pioneer in this field in Austria. What does this mean specifically? Manfred Tscheligi: Usability describes the usability of systems based on specific measurable parameters such as how quickly a user can recall a specific operating procedure. The important thing here is the measurability of the parameters so that usability can be reproducibly established and optimised. However the term ‚usability‘ does not seem to go far enough. Our significantly more comprehensive approach is better described as ‚user experience‘. After all, our research work is about more than just functional application; it is about a broad discussion on the user experience as a whole. Our interaction with technology is affecting us in an emotional as well as an intellectual and sensual manner more than ever before. This change from a pure approach to usability to a broader perspective requires a structured discussion of aspects such as happiness, aesthetics, emotion, confidence, acceptance, comfort, perceived security and sociality. All of these aspects fall under the term of ‚UX‘, i.e. user experience. They are crucial to our interaction with technology in various situations. There is also a situational or contextual dimension. After all, different features naturally lead to different forms of user experience.

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In your opinion, why has industry in Austria paid so little attention to this field of research until now? Tscheligi: There is no question - there is still some pioneering work to be done. The potential offered by our field of research is not very widely known and is therefore underestimated. The challenge is to apply leverage in the education field. Interest is rapidly increasing and perception of the issue is growing accordingly. More and more players are aware of the fact that customers value more than just functional diversity. Users are becoming increasingly critical too - especially where the quality of the interface is concerned. After all, the interface between people and technology is finally responsible for the user experience. New technologies open up new possibilities and are thus becoming ever more complex. Our task is to reduce this complexity in order to enable faster and more efficient use. But our aim is also to offer users an appropriate user experience. If the interface is adapted to the needs of the user it is easier for them to learn complex processes. This approach to use is also a key source of innovation. Exact knowledge of what is being done where and how has already opened up new potential and generated essential competitive advantages for many of our project partners. In your field of research, understanding the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s exact requirements is crucial. Is there a matrix which reveals the ideal solution for creating a successful product? Tscheligi: Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;re talking here about user-centred design or experience-centred design. This relates to an iterative sequence of activities which allows a detailed understanding of aspects of use and requirements in different situations. This can be achieved through participatory observation as in ethnographic studies - these are a rich source of potential. The conversion of knowledge into suitable interfaces or experience concepts is an integral part of successful technological innovation in our view. The quality of the experience can only be optimised through a well-defined sequence of these empirically-driven activities. A range of relevant methods and approaches are already available or under development. For example, we are currently working on how the feeling of security can be increased when using a specific technology with the aid of a suitable experience design.

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Innovation Systems

When you speak to industry representatives about potential research collaborations - what are their greatest reservations? Tscheligi: Very often they have to do with the time and resources needed because our research work can often result in extended development times, which also increases costs. However the time argument can be eliminated with appropriate planning of activities and by incorporating these experience activities in the process in good time. Experience-centred design can go hand-inhand with other activities and often even reduces the time required for other phases because the consistent user perspective makes it easier to identify what needs to be done from the outset. Of course, this incurs costs, but the optimised experience quality generally balances this out. No industry should lose sight of the experience perspective these days - it is important to take account of interface innovations and optimisations and the various user groups. After all, this is were potential clients can be won or lost in the face of ever fiercer competition. The optimisation and opening up of the user experience is crucial to the acceptance of innovation. Without appropriate acceptance, there can be no future use, and especially no sustainable use. You have recently joined the AIT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Austrian Institute of Technology. What were the main arguments for your institute teaming up with the Innovation Systems Department (formerly Foresight & Policy Development)? Tscheligi: AIT offers a range of competence in different fields of technology and therefore has wide-ranging expertise in systems and techno-

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Innovation Systems

logy research. The result is a fascinating synergy between a horizontal and very interdisciplinary field like technology expertise and existing successful fields of technology and research. Complex technologies require a range of approaches, for example in ‚smart cities‘ research - and this is much easier to achieve through this synergy. Technology experience can only be successfully investigated and devised under appropriate technological conditions and expands the portfolio of the Innovation Systems Department through increased usability and acceptance research.

touch, gesture, motion-based interaction, ambient interfaces and multi-device interaction. Looking into the key properties of interaction and materials involved in interaction is a very current field and includes, for example, different ways of transporting the feeling of confidence. We also address the experience factors relevant to the user experience as targeted parameters for measuring experience quality and as suitable tools for supporting the creation of new forms of experience for special technology and application contexts.

What are the concrete goals of your research at AIT? Tscheligi: We are pursuing two fundamental research goals. First the user experience in special application contexts. Special application areas and situations form corresponding interaction contexts which lead to a comprehensive concept. An in-depth understanding of contextual characteristics and focus on future forms of experience are pre-requisites for mature technologies. This is examined in the research field of ‚contextual

Is it not sufficient to adhere to existing standards in order to ensure usability? Tscheligi: There are numerous standards and design criteria which are helpful. They ensure a higher level of design consistency and facilitate development. However these only create a framework or starting point and need to be adapted to the relevant target or user groups. A standard can never anticipate the situational conditions in advance. For example, concrete interface concepts must be tailored to the different requirements found in different factoTechnology experience can only be successfully investiga- ries, for example in terms of prevailing social and organisational ted and devised under appropriate technological condiconditions. This requires a suitations and expands the portfolio of the Innovation Systems ble process for applying standards in the right form and at the Department through increased usability and acceptance right time.

experience‘. The primary goal is to create special experience approaches based on three perspectives: users have different motivations for using technology depending on their character as an individual person or as a social being and strive to optimise personal values. Technology should support and improve upon possibilities for communication and collaboration with others. Technology should take account of personal barriers, fears and attitudes and improve on opportunities for mobility and better experiencing the environment in which we live. The second field of research, ‚experience foundations‘, concerns the analysis and definition of suitable means and mechanisms for bringing about and enabling special experiences. These methods are often referred to as interaction paradigms or interaction techniques. Over the last few years, a range of new approaches has emerged such as

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Presenting people with particularly user-friendly products in dedicated ‚usability parks‘ is a new international trend. Is this the new trade fair concept of the future? Tscheligi: This is a very interesting concept and the result of an increasing tendency to select products with a high level of usability or experience. People want to experience these products on hand, try them out and make their own assessments. The initial experience has a considerable impact on the customer‘s further relationship with the product or service. What are the key challenges in the human-machine interaction in your view? Tscheligi: We live in a networked world with a range of increasingly networked objects. The ‚Internet of Things‘ is becoming ever more pervasive. Technical intelligence is being built into more and more things. Glasses are no longer

Fotos: 123rf.com, Klobucsar, Krischanz & Zeiller

research.

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Innovation Systems

Fotos: 123rf.com, Klobucsar, Krischanz & Zeiller

just a visual aid for example - as Google Glass about methodologically organising this co-exisshows, they can also be an ‚intelligent object‘ tence of technology and people from the outset which offers radical new possibilities… as well as through an appropriate co-experience. The questriggering lots of anxieties and scope for discustion of who has control then becomes less relesion. From a technology experience viewpoint, vant. /// we will soon have numerous ‚Interfaces of Things‘ to inThe entire body will be integrated to a greater extent unclude in our design work. This der the motto of ‚embodied interaction‘ - for example in means taking account of the user‘s values, needs, barriers motion-based interaction or gesture control. We are worand interests in order to king towards new interaction paradigms which will make achieve broad acceptance. greater use of the environment/context. New forms of interaction have become technologically more advanced to be able to include them in interface concepts. The entire body will be integrated to a greater extent under the motto of ‚embodied interaction‘ - for example in motion-based interaction or gesture control. We are working towards new interaction paradigms which will make greater use of the environment/context. Coffee cups or floors become interfaces which contain interactive information. So each object will need a different interface.

To what extent will barriers between people and machines shift in the medium to long-term? Tscheligi: Technological innovations also require a broadening of possibilities. Machines are resolving more and more complex tasks with fewer interventions. Admittedly almost all contexts in which they are used require the punctual interaction of man and machine. But from a user experience viewpoint, it is important to give people the feeling of control. The loss of control leaves people feeling unsure and prone to mistakes. One such example is the automatic sensor-controlled car, a subject of much discussion recently. There will still be situations where the driver has to intervene - whether in assuming the ‚power‘ or in critical situations which neither the car nor the driver can handle alone. This is about the optimal design for collaboration from a user perspective at different synchronisation points. And finally a look into the crystal ball: do you think humanoid robots will remain a work of science fiction? Or in other words: will the decisionmaking authority lie solely with people in the key areas of our lives in the future? Tscheligi: Technological artefacts will continue to gain in intelligence. But as explained before, it is

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Further details: Innovation Systems Department, Beatrice Rath, Tel.: +43 505 50-4508, e-mail:beatrice.rath@ ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait. ac.at/is

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➜ Mobility

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR BATTERY DEVELOPMENT /// Powerful and inexpensive batteries are the basis for the widespread acceptance of electric mobility – the experts in AIT‘s Battery Materials Laboratory are developing the fundamentals for the next generation of electrical energy storage in vehicles. ///

●● IN A NUTSHELL

ELECTRIC VEHICLES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ALL VISIONS OF FUTURE MOBILITY. Most automobile

One thing is certain: electric mobility is the future. However, the path to this future is paved with numerous scientific challenges, particularly in the field of energy storage. The AIT Mobility Department‘s Battery Materials Laboratory which opened in June is taking up this challenge at the level of materials science. Thanks to its longstanding experience and extensive equipment, the laboratory offers industry a wide range of services for synthesising, optimising and characterising materials and cells for lithium-ion batteries, as well as for the post-lithium generation. The experts are thus creating the basis for future energy storage devices with longer service life, greater efficiency and larger capacities.

manufacturers already have an electric or hybrid model on the road, or at least in the starting blocks. Many experts regard the development of more powerful and less expensive batteries as the key factor in helping electric mobility gain mass acceptance. Over the past years the AIT Mobility Department has been intensively working on optimising electrical energy storage, for

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example by simulating, measuring and testing the performance of cells and battery modules under real stress conditions, developing extremely light-weight and crash-proof battery housings, and integrating the energy storage unit into the overall vehicle. In addition to this knowhow, a new laboratory was opened in June, which focuses on developing and analysing materials that form the basis for future energy storage technologies. „Our research is aimed at achieving longer battery service life, greater efficiency and capacity. The new Battery Materials Laboratory will put us an enormous step ahead“, says AIT Managing Director Wolfgang Knoll. „The laboratory is a onestop shop for our customers in the automotive industr y, batter y manufacturers, materials developers and cell manufacturers. From materials development to optimisation and battery testing - we make all these services available in one place“, adds AIT Managing Director Anton Plimon, describing the new laboratory‘s portfolio of services. Financial support came from Austria‘s Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT), the Federation of Austrian Industries (iV) and the Vienna Technology Agency (ZIT). „Using the solid scientific basis which results from the laboratory‘s new materials findings, we want to support the automotive industry as it moves into the electric era, and continue to drive vehicle evolution, from conventional to various hybrid technologies and finally pure electric vehicles“, says Christian Chimani, Head of the Mobility Department, summarising the laboratory‘s strategic and technological aims. NEW AND OPTIMISED MATERIALS

The electrochemically active materials within the energy storage unit, i.e. the electrodes and electrolytes, have a significant influence on battery service life and power. Thanks to years of experience in the field of cell chemistry, the laboratory‘s employees can draw on a wide range of methods for developing new materials with improved characteristics for these components. „Our in-house simulation expertise offers us an extremely efficient method of identifying, evaluating and subsequently synthesising improved electrode materials using a variety of methods“, explains Atanaska Trifonova, Coordinator for Electrical Energy Storage at the AIT Mobility De-

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partment. In addition to developing new insertion hosts for the next generation of batteries, the task is also to optimise existing materials. „Through the targeted modification of the inner crystal structure or surface characteristics we Christian Chimani /// Head of Mobility Department „With its comprehensive range of non-destructive insitu analytical methods, the Battery Materials Laboratory has gained a leading position in national and international applied research.“

can effectively customise cells made from these compounds“, adds the materials scientist, outlining the laboratory‘s development approach. „Our aim is to provide battery manufacturers with new high-performance materials for energy storage devices with higher capacities, longer service life and better environmental compatibility“. DEEP INSIGHT INTO THE INSIDE

In order to develop and optimise these robust and environmentally-friendly high-performance batteries, detailed knowledge of anode and cathode material properties is essential. Material structure and chemistry are critical, as are surface properties and morphology. Therefore battery materials are examined intensely in the laboratory using microscopic, spectroscopic, physicochemical and electrochemical analytical methods. „The X-ray spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer, for example, allow us to precisely analyse the chemical composition, surface topography and crystalline structure of the various materials“, says Trifonova. In turn, the scanning electron microscope offers a detailed view of the morphology on a nanometre scale. „Together with other thermal and specific electrochemical measurements, these analyses indicate which materials and material combinations we need in order to achieve the desired electrochemical characteristics“, says the expert. With its comprehensive range of non-destructive in-situ analytical methods, the Battery Materials Laboratory has gained a leading position in national and international applied research. The laboratory is also officially accredited for a range of materials analyses and regularly takes part in international

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Mobility

Atanaska Trifonova /// Scientist, Mobility Department „Our aim is to provide battery manufacturers with new highperformance materials for energy storage devices with higher capacities, longer service life and better environmental compatibility.“

round robin tests. This combination means industrial customers can be secure in the knowledge that they have access to scientifically sound, high quality data. FROM MATERIAL TO CELL PROTOTYPE

The knowledge gained from synthesis and characterisation forms the basis for subsequent cell design. In the cell laboratory newly developed or optimised materials are processed into electrodes and assembled into half or full cells. These building blocks are then used to make laboratory prototypes of button and pouch cells for all types of battery for further electrochemical analysis. „One of our current focuses is lithium-ion technology, because its high degree of efficiency currently makes it the most promising solution for electric mobility“, says Trifonova. „At the same time, we are also researching into materials for Rainer Weingraber /// Head of Business Unit Electric Drive Technologies

The AIT Mobility Department has positioned itself as a recognised development centre for electric drive concepts and has continuously expanded its battery expertise. AIT has now established a state-of-the-art Battery Materials Laboratory to provide the industry with materials science know-how for developing batteries of the next generation.

„We can measure performance profiles under defined ambient conditions and analyse the behaviour of cells and batteries under electrical, mechanical and thermal loads.“

Materials synthesis and optimisation The laboratory develops new battery materials with customised properties and synthesises these materials using wet-chemical, solid state, mechanochemical and/or electrochemical methods. Another focus is on the optimisation of existing electrode materials by surface or structural (doping or substitution) modification.

post-lithium generation batteries“. This includes metal air systems with a very high energy density, as well as new electrolytes with greater thermodynamic stability, in order to increase battery efficiency and service life.

Materials characterisation The Battery Materials Laboratory can draw on a wide range of non-destructive analytical methods to obtain detailed information about the structure and chemical composition of the materials. The methods include X-ray spectrometry, electron-induced X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive detector, multiplex gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, granulometry, etc. Long years of accreditation and participation in international round-robin tests ensure quality assured data for industrial development.

„CSI BATTERY“: VALIDATION AND POST-MORTEM ANALYSIS

Cell assembly and testing In the cell laboratory the new electrode materials are assembled into half and full cells. In-depth electrochemical analysis is followed by implementation in laboratory prototypes of button and pouch cells. Battery tests The Battery Test Laboratory complements the materials know-how with services in the fields of cell characterisation, safety and abuse tests, post mortem analysis, environmental simulations and ageing tests for cells, batteries and packages. ///

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The laboratory‘s service portfolio is supplemented by the Battery Test Laboratory, which undertakes in-depth testing of cells, batteries and complete packages. „Here we can measure performance profiles under defined ambient conditions and analyse the behaviour of cells and batteries under electrical, mechanical and thermal loads, as well as extreme stresses such as shortcircuits, overloading, deep discharge, vibrations, dust, salt or extreme temperatures“, explains Rainer Weingraber, Head of the Business Unit Electric Drive Technologies. Batteries are also subject to ageing and so the laboratory also offers early diagnosis of changes in

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology/Krischanz & Zeiller, Manfred Werner, Erwin_Sturm

Research services

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Mobility

Photos: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology/Krischanz & Zeiller, Manfred Werner, Erwin_Sturm

cell chemistry and post-mortem analysis. Indepth examination of how the battery materials deteriorate after ‚death‘ of the cell enables the AIT experts to provide the manufacturer with recommendations on cell suitability or suggestions for optimisation. At the same time these examinations are also important for estimating the remaining service life for the battery‘s so-called ‚second life‘: after use in an electric vehicle a battery may no longer have sufficient power to drive a vehicle, but it is still suitable for other purposes, such as the intermediate storage of excess electrical energy produced by solar or wind power plants. Thus ‚worn out‘ batteries can contribute to stabilising power grids, with this secondary use helping to reduce costs in the battery sector over the long term. „The boom in hybrid and electric vehicles, and the large number of batteries required will drive battery development and optimisation even more strongly in the future. This represents a very significant potential, especially in the field of materials science“, says Weingraber, convinced of the importance of the Battery Materials Laboratory for the future of electric mobility. ///

Further details: Mobility Department, Christian Chimani, Tel.: +43 505 50-6322, e-mail:christian.chimani@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at/mobility

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➜ EVENTS

INNOVATION CALENDAR 22 – 24 OCTOBER: UCAAT – USER CONFERENCE ON ADVANCED AUTOMATED TESTING 2013 The User Conference on Advanced Automated Testing offered an ideal opportunity for test designers, testing and automation engineers, testing experts, quality and/or project managers and service providers from across the globe to exchange experiences and learn about the latest findings and progress in the industrial use of automated testing. Venue: Paris Information: http://ucaat.etsi.org 28 OCTOBER: AIT SEMINAR SERIES PRESENTS FRANK WITTE (HANNOVER MEDICAL SCHOOL) The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology regularly invites top researchers from the USA, the UK, Sweden and Germany to give guest lectures in the Health & Environment Seminar Series. International experts in health, medical technology and environment present the latest findings in their fields. A strong focus is being placed on the rapid deployment of research results on the market. On 28 October, Frank Witte (Hannover Medical School) discussed "The challenges and the future of biodegradable metal implants". Venue: Tech Gate, Donau City Strasse 1, 1220 Wien Information: www.ait.ac.at/ health_environment 5 – 6 NOVEMBER: SAFETRONIC 2013 Much of the innovation in the automotive industry has a direct or indirect impact on safety-related electronic systems. But what is the state of the art and the state of the practice? How do the standards evolve? These topics were discussed at this event, which is designed by and for experts. The presentations by speakers with top-level know-how provided practical examples, current research topics and information about the status of standardisation and its application. All participants were invited to be a part of the discussion about the further development of safety-related electronics. Venue: Stuttgart Infos: www.hanser-tagungen.de 6 – 8 NOVEMBER: ICT 2013: CREATE, CONNECT, GROW ICT 2013 brought together Europe's brightest minds in ICT research with entrepreneurs, web start-ups and digital strategists to chart a path for Europe's ICT research policy. Participants had the opportunity to share and discuss their vision for the future with EU policy makers and learn about the latest advances in EU-funded ICT research. Venue: Vilnius Information: http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/ict-2013

10 – 13 NOVEMBER: IECON AIT and the Vienna University of Technology organised the 39th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics 2013 (IECON). The IECON is a flagship conference of the Industrial Electronics Society (IES) of the IEEE, the world's largest professional association of engineers. The topics of the conference range from energy technology, information and communication technology to robotics. The event provided a platform for presenting the latest research results and encouraged networking of scientists from research and industry. Venue: Wien Information: www.iecon2013.org 13 – 14 NOVEMBER: CHILDREN AND DIGITAL MEDIA 2013 The two-day congress focused on young people as future employees as well as the use of digital media in the world of work - from application 2.0 and employer branding using social media platforms through to online employer and applicant rating. Venue: WKO Campus Wien Information: www.kinderundmedien.at 14 – 15 NOVEMBER: INNOVATION CONGRESS 2013 Some 1,200 visitors attended this year's Innovation Congress in Villach, which was held under the motto "The Art of Innovation: Trends becoming Business Models". A special focus was placed on the practical value and applicability of the inputs provided by the Congress. Venue: Villach Information: www.innovationskongress.at 21 NOVEMBER: AIT SEMINAR SERIES PRESENTS HANS HERMANN RICHNOW (UFZ LEIPZIG) The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology regularly invites top researchers from the USA, the UK, Sweden and Germany to give guest lectures in Austria. The Health & Environment Seminar Series is supported by AIT cooperation partners: LISA Vienna - Life Science Austria, ÖGMBT (Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology) and the Medical University of Vienna (Institute for Cancer Research). On 21 November, Hans Hermann Richnow (UFZ Leipzig) will talk about stable isotope techniques for analysing organic pollutants in the environment. Venue: AIT, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430 Tulln Information: www.ait.ac.at/health_environment 26 – 27 NOVEMBER: 3RD MUNICH BIOMARKER CONFERENCE The Munich Biomarker Conference is bringing the biotech and pharma industry together with scientists and physicians to discuss the most recent trends of biomarker research for a third year in succession. The conference covers the whole life cycle of a biomarker and discusses how personalised medicine will change our healthcare system. The presentations will be complemented by a poster session and a specialist exhibition. A gala dinner on the first evening will provide the ideal framework for networking. Venue: München Information: www.m4.de/mbc

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➜ SCIENTIFIC PAPER

AIT TOP JOURNAL PAPERS /// Current research results of AIT scientists recently published in high-impact international journals. /// N. Glass, M. Schmoll, H. Cate, S. Coradetti: "PLANT CELL WALL DECONSTRUCTION BY ASCOMYCETE FUNGI" Annual Reviews Microbiol, 67 (2013), S. 477 - 498. Plant biomass degradation significantly contributes to the global carbon cycle and requires a diverse set of secreted enzymes. Filamentous fungi are of major significance for this degradation. Their enzymes enable diverse biomass degradation products to be used for the production of bioethanol, chemical primary products and biopolymers. The metabolic abilities and regulation mechanisms of enzyme production are therefore being systematically investigated, in particular in the model organisms Trichoderma reesei and Neurospora crassa. Recent research results have indicated an important function not only of hydrolytic but also oxidative enzymes as well as mutual interaction of other metabolic pathways and signal transmission mechanisms. In addition to the substrate surrounding the fungus, light has also been revealed as an important signal for the regulation of biomass-degrading enzymes. Our article shows new findings in these fields and addresses the degradation of plant biomass from sensing in nature, to transmission and modulation of signals, to activation of transcription factors and gene induction, to the production of the required enzymes and their function. P. Palensky, F. Kupzog: „SMART GRIDS“ The Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 10.1146/ annurev-environ-031312-102947. This article covers the current state of smart grid research and demonstration projects. At present, smart elements are making their way into traditional electricity grid systems at every level, from transmission through to distribution. The vast size of the power grid makes the extension of a digitally enabled electricity infrastructure a question of cost. Drivers for this development are the growing security requirements and sustainability of supply in the face of rising demand and aging infrastructure. Information technology is one of the key elements of smart grids because it enables cooperation of distributed energy resources, local control, and globalised energy markets. Smart grids are expected to make our power system more resilient, green, and efficient; a challenge that the automotive industry has already mastered. We are now witnessing the same development in energy systems. This article provides an introduction to the topic, a snapshot of current activities, and a general outlook on what still is needed. B. Dachs, S. Biege, M. Borowiecki, G. Lay, A. Jäger, D. Schartinger: „SERVITISATION IN EUROPEAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM A LARGE-SCALE DATABASE“ The Service Industries Journal, 2013, published online: 14 Mar 2013, in print. The well-defined boundaries between the manufacturing industry and the service sector are becoming increasingly blurred. Manufacturing firms are providing more and more services along with or instead of their traditional phy-

sical products, while service providers are becoming increasingly technology intensive. The manufacturing industry thus provides significant productivity stimulus to the service sector. This paper presents new evidence for this servitisation of European manufacturing and examines previous findings based on case studies with a large, firm-level data set. Empirical results indicate that the service turnover of manufacturing firms is still small (12.9% in the Austrian manufacturing industry). National differences play only a minor role in explaining the degree of servitisation. Company size is of more relevance. Results indicate advantages for both small and large firms in servitisation. Moreover, servitisation is positively related to product complexity and the likelihood that the firm introduces product innovation. ///

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THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO SHAPE IT. If your company is looking for cutting edge innovations, then AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is your partner of choice. Because in our institute the most acute minds in Europe are working today on tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tools and technologies, laying the ground for the solutions the future demands. Learn more about the future by visiting www.ait.ac.at

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