BREAKOUT SESSIONS

01// LIFE SCIENCES – POTENTIALS AND LIMITATIONS

Matthias Beck, Henrietta Egerth, Sylvia Knapp, Michael Kocher, Karl Stöger, Erich Tauber // Chair Florian Frauscher // Organisation: Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW)

Led by Florian Frauscher from the Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs, experts discussed the potential of the crisis as a driver of innovation, among other things. Michael Kocher, CEO of Novartis Austria and Global President B2B Sandoz, called for appropriate framework conditions for sustainable exploitation of the full R&D potential in Austria. Security of supply, reliability and trust should not be neglected in favor of economic goals. When asked about the background to the sale of Themis Bioscience GmbH to Merck & Co., Erich Tauber explained that the transfer of academic research to an industrial partner had already been part of the business plan when the company was founded and that he was proud of the acquisition of his company by MSD. FFG Managing Director Henrietta Egerth stressed that progress in highly developed economies could increasingly be achieved through qualitative factors such as R&D, competition and work organization. Research could be a solution approach and an economic engine. Regarding legal limits for research, Prof. Karl Stöger, University of Graz, explained that Art 17 StGG is very liberal and against this background § 9 Reproductive Medicine Act is questionable because the latter contains a ban directed against research. With "Ethics Dumping", researchers would be forced to move to other countries for sensitive research projects. Prof. Matthias Beck, moral theologian at the University of Vienna, stated that research should serve people and not the economy. Fair distribution of goods – e.g. corona vaccine – is crucial. Sylvia Knapp, Professor of Infection Biology at MedUni Vienna, pointed out the excessive immune response of about 10 percent of those affected by corona as well as the variability of disease patterns. More funding for excellence and basic research as well as more cooperation is needed. REVIEW #Efatec 2020

02 // WATER, THE ORIGIN OF LIFE

Martin Brandl, Franz Dinhobl, Andreas Farnleitner, Martin Kainz, Regina Sommer // Chair: Claus Zeppelzauer // Introduction: Jochen Danninger // Organisation: ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria

In this session, the panel in cooperation with ecoplus illuminated the fundamental topic of water, the origin of life, in a variety of ways. Jochen Danninger, Lower Austrian Technology Provincial Councillor: "Water as an ecosystem and habitat, as an energy supplier, economic factor as well as the health aspects". With the water cluster Lunz, a large "natural laboratory", three universities are doing basic research on the ecosystem water, which is unique in Europe. Thus Martin Kainz investigates the connections between biodiversity and nutrient supply in waters. In particular, this involves pollutants that disturb the natural balance and influence the brain development of fish due to a lack of lipids. Andreas Farnleitner, Head of the Department of Water Quality and Health at the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, talked about the current state of research in microbiology and the tracking of pathogens. Regina Sommer, Head of the Department of Water Hygiene at the Medical University of Vienna, spoke about UV disinfection of water, an area in which Austria is a global leader. Martin Brandl from the Center for Water and Environmental Sensors at the Danube University Krems presented the newly developed "Smart Sensors", which are important for a high-quality drinking water supply thanks to the monitoring of many parameters. The water supplier EVN uses these modern technologies. "Climate change and urbanization present us with new challenges here," said Managing Director Franz Dinhobl. Austria does have sufficient water, but it is not distributed equally. Here a compensation must take place by the public supply.

03 // RESPONSIBILITY. PRODUCTION. EUROPE

04 // FEEDING THE CITY - OR IS THE CITY FEEDING YOU?

Markus Beyrer, Georg Kopetz, Lars Nagel, Sabine Seidler, Stephan Sielaff, Michael Wiesmüller // Chair: Isabella Meran-Waldstein // Presentation: Manuela Raidl // Organisation: Verein zur Förderung von Forschung und Innovation (VFFI)

How can we acquire key competencies in order to strengthen sovereignty and crisis resilience? This was the central question of the session of the Association for the Promotion of Research and Innovation (VFFI). Markus Beyrer, Director General of BusinessEurope, stressed that a strong industrial policy also requires a strong research policy and that regions with strong industry are better able to weather crises. For Georg Kopetz, founder and CEO of the TTTech Group, an ambitious RTI policy is important to consolidate Europe as an attractive location. Digitization and new technologies - including edge computing - offer opportunities for reindustrialization in Europe. Lars Nagel, Managing Director of the International Data Space Association, emphasized the importance of data, data sovereignty and trust in handling data. The European data cloud Gaia X could be a possible path for Europe. Sabine Seidler, Rector of the Vienna University of Technology, spoke about the high innovation function and economic importance of universities. Good public R&D funding and technology transfer are particularly important, she said. Stephan Sielaff, CTO of the Lenzing Group, made special reference to the important topic of "lifelong learning" and the great importance of a good infrastructure. Michael Wiesmüller, head of the department for key technologies for industrial innovation of the BMK, underlined the important role of a strong national and European RTI system. Good regulation can promote innovation. But there should also be room for experimentation. Janine Bex, Adam Curtis, Christine Ehrenhuber, Tobias Judmaier, Daniel Podmirseg, Robin Simsa, Christoph Thomann // Chair: Theresia Vogel // Presentation: Friederike Leibl-Bürger // Organisation: Climate and Energy Fund

Will cities be able to sustainably supply themselves in the future? Will our food soon come from vertical farms or even 3D printers? These were the questions of the Climate and Energy Fund session. Managing Director Theresia Vogel: "The production, processing and transport of our food produces a lot of greenhouse gases. Urban life production is one solution." Adam Curtis, Research Director Nabolagshager, Oslo, emphasized the social component and the effects on the relationship between man and nature. Daniel Podmirseg, founder and chairman of the vertical farm institute, Vienna, already sees food production as part of everyday urban life. Christoph Thomann, Founder and CEO ZIRP, Vienna, presented the high-quality and healthy food insects. Robin Simsa, co-founder and CEO Legendary Vish, Vienna, produced fish from plant material using 3D printers - an important contribution against overfishing. Janine Bex, municipal councillor, Die Grünen, Innsbruck, emphasized the importance of close cooperation between politicians and civil society at the local level to allow pioneering projects in the food sector to flourish. And Christine Ehrenhuber, Project Coordinator United Against Waste, Vienna, addressed the problem of food waste. 1.3 billion tons are thrown away every year. Tobias Judmaier, CEO iss mich!, Vienna, confirmed this sad trend. Above all, it must be produced more intelligently. Everyone agreed that urgent action has to be taken.

REVIEW # Photos:ORF/Hans Leitner Efatec 2020

05 // RETURN ON INVESTMENT: EXCELLENCE & RELEVANCE IN SCIENCE

Eva Maria Binder, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, Merle Jacob, James Wilsdon, Tan Eng Chye // Chairs: Klement Tockner, Barbara Weitgruber // Organisation: Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)

This breakout session organized by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the Ministry for Education, Science and Research [BMBWF] concluded that excellent and relevant research cannot be viewed in isolation from the overall ecosystem of the science sector. FWF President Klement Tockner and Barbara Weitgruber, Director General of Scientific Research and International Relations at the BMBWF, led the discussion. Tan Eng Chye, President of the National University of Singapore, spoke about the five-year government research plan in Singapore, which covers the entire panorama from basic research to value creation in companies. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, interim President of the European Research Council (ERC), emphasized Singapore's exemplary character with three percent of the gross domestic product devoted to research. He said that the EU is far from achieving this goal, "even if countries like Austria, the Nordic states and now Germany have achieved it." As far as Eva Maria Binder, Director of the Executive Board of Erber Group is concerned, a key success factor for her company is a very early focus on R&D. She emphasized that scientists working in industry are also granted freedom in research and that there must be room for basic research. Merle Jacob, from Lund University in Sweden, pointed out that the scientific community must perform many tasks besides excellent research. "The question is what a strategy can look like that strikes a productive balance between relevance and excellence." James Wilsdon from the University of Sheffield focused on a critical questioning of excellence in the science sector itself: "It is not easy to grasp the concept of excellence. Too often, the concept of excellence is made measurable by relying on a too narrow set of metrics and key figures." REVIEW #Efatec 2020

06 // FUTURE MOBILITY: ECOLOGICAL,

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SOLUTIONS

Niels de Boer, Michael Holzner, Mark Topal-Gökceli // Chair: Jost Bernasch // Organisation: Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH

The Virtual Vehicle session dealt with new technologies such as autonomous shuttles or the Hyperloop as well as their political, economic and social dimensions. Niels de Boer, Program Director Future Mobility Solutions at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, presented the city-state's comprehensive mobility concept which provides traffic on several levels with plenty of green and space for walking. Mark Topal-Gökceli, Head of Rail Systems & Technology at ÖBB, spoke about First Mile Integration and how to better link up a complex mobility system. Driverless trains will increase capacities and frequencies. European freight traffic still requires end-to-end digitalisation. Jost Bernasch, Managing Director of Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, Graz, talked about value-driven future mobility with all its social, ecological and economic dimensions. The 38 percent share of SUVs shows that people’s personal goals must also be taken into account if ecological solutions are to be accepted. The new mobility solutions must be more attractive. "Future mobility driven solely by technology has no future," emphasized Michael Holzner, Founder and Managing Director, iCONDU GmbH, Ingolstadt. The principles of efficiency would have to give way to the principle of the actual effectiveness of the entire mobility system, and individual aspects should no longer be optimized at the expense of others – in line with the UN Sustainability Goals (SDG). He said that a holistic view and a "target system", along with the common goal of sustainable mobility for everyone everywhere, is necessary for the sustainable mobility of the future. And that this requires intensive cooperation between science, industry and politics.

07 // RESEARCH IN TIMES OF CRISIS:

BENEFITS OF APPLIED RESEARCH?

Iris Filzwieser, Klaus Pseiner, Christiane Spiel, Eva-Maria Titz, Matthias Weber // Chair: Siegfried Reich // Organisation: Forschung Austria

How can innovation systems provide sustainable and positive inputs, in particular for the period after the Covid-19 crisis? This was one of the questions posed by the top-level discussion panel, moderated by Siegfried Reich, Managing Director of Salzburg Research. "Within a very short time, specific tenders were set up and both research institutions and companies responded quickly with concepts and project proposals," noted FFG Managing Director Klaus Pseiner. The innovation and research system stabilized after the first severe weeks of the crisis. For Matthias Weber, AIT Center Head, it has become clear that innovative companies are better able to get through crises. However, there are currently different trends in R&D expenditures: For instance, many companies want to reduce their expenditures in this regard in 2021. This will also have an impact on research units and personnel. For ACR President Iris Filzwieser, founder of Mettop, the corona months were an enormous challenge that will still continue. "With an export share of 98 percent, a sudden worldwide lockdown confronted us at Mettop with enormous difficulties. We, like most SMEs, need normal business again and some help on the liquidity side." Christiane Spiel, Professor of Educational Psychology and Evaluation at the University of Vienna, spoke of the teaching and learning experiences during the corona crisis: "We need more education in so-called 21st century skills to better prepare the knowledge workers of tomorrow for collaborative work in unforeseen situations." For Eva-Maria Titz from the Ministry for Climate Action, it is important to deliberately design research so that it is open in order to avoid an excessive focus on corona. For instance, climate neutrality 2040 remains an important objective, as does the focus on CO2 reduction.

08 // HYDROGEN – A KEY TECHNOLOGY

FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Laurent Antoni, Philipp Braunsdorf, Martin Hackl, Markus Lehner, Horst Steinmüller, Theresia Vogel // Chair: Alexander Trattner // Organisation: Austrian Universities of Technology (TU Austria)

The session, coordinated by HyCentA Research in cooperation with TU Austria, explored the potential of green hydrogen in particular. A video presented the Austrian hydrogen strategy, H2 storage, the contribution to attaining the climate goals, and H2 filling stations. Alliances such as Hydrogen Europe for industry and Hydrogen Europe Research with 82 members are intended to strengthen Europe's leading position, says Alexander Trattner, CEO of HyCentA Research, Graz. Philipp Braunsdorf, Programme Manager Infrastructure Hydrogen, NOW GmbH, presented the German hydrogen strategy with its 38 concrete measures. Laurent Antoni, President of Hydrogen Europe Research, Brussels, spoke about the unification efforts of the national initiatives. Theresia Vogel, Managing Director of the Climate and Energy Fund, stressed that Austria has the potential to become a leading hydrogen nation. In her view, however, cross-border initiatives are more important. Horst Steinmüller, Managing Director of WIVA P&G Energy, presented the hydrogen model region. Markus Lehner from the Montanuniversität Leoben discussed the wide range of H2 application possibilities, particularly for the steel industry. Martin Hackl, Global Director of the Business Unit Solar Energy at Fronius International, Wels, explained H2's contribution to PV and the possibility of linking up all energy sectors with H2. In summary: In order to make Europe an innovation leader in the field of hydrogen, ambitious research along the entire value chain as well as intensive cooperation between research and industry are still required. Photos:ORF/Hans Leitner, Harald HornacekREVIEW #Efatec 2020

09 // CLIMATE NEUTRALITY 2040 –

DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS FOR CO2 NEUTRALITY

Leonore Gewessler, Maja Göpel, Marleen Roubik, Katja Schechtner, Maria Vassilakou // Chair: Henriette Spyra // Organisation: Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)

This session of the BMK and the Federal Environment Agency dared to take a look at Austria from the perspective of the year 2040. How did climate neutrality come about? According to Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, committed people with stubborn optimism were primarily responsible for this. The Covid-19 crisis had shown how crises affect daily life. This accelerated technological and social innovations such as the sharing culture or the recycling economy. Katja Schechtner, Agent Innovatrice at the International Transport Forum of the OECD as well as Research Fellow at MIT, believed that it was not so much "excessively disruptive technologies" that are supposed to solve all climate problems, but rather many small innovations forming a dynamically growing technology mosaic that are responsible for this. Maria Vassilakou, Member Mission Board Climate Neutral Cities 2030 of the European Commission, presented the plan on how 100 European cities or city districts could become climate-neutral as early as 2030 – e.g. through building renovation, autonomous shuttles, new delivery systems or the local promotion of citizens' projects. Experimental lawyer Marleen Roubik, in turn, described new ways in which laws could accommodate the rapid changes in areas such as transport, energy and the environment. To achieve this, the legal context will have to provide the necessary scope for innovations such as autonomous driving. Henriette Spyra, Director Science & Innovation at the Federal Environment Agency and transformation researcher Maja Göpel, explained the necessary economic and social changes to achieve climate neutrality 2040. Artist Lana Lauren documented the larger picture with all its factors in a pictorial and very clear way. REVIEW #Efatec 2020

10 // RESILIENCE AND DIGITAL FUTURE:

SYNERGY OR DISCREPANCY?

Matthias Horx, Eric-Jan Kaak, Sabine Mayer, Katharina Ratheiser, Petra Stolba // Chair: Manfred Tscheligi // Organisation: ITG Innovations- und Technologietransfer Salzburg GmbH

The session in cooperation with ITG Innovations- und Technologietransfer Salzburg focused on resilience, which can be increased through flexibility and self-reflection – in particular in companies or entire economic systems. Digitalisation plays a key role in this respect. Trend and future researcher Matthias Horx ventured into a new corona backward prognosis. One point in particular, the misuse of digital media, was intensively discussed. Sabine Mayer from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) explained why companies with R&D departments are more resilient and perform better. Flexible companies benefit during times of crises because they can quickly adapt to new circumstances. Eric-Jan Kaak, Innovation Manager at SPAR ICS, spoke about organizational development in a world that is no longer so easily plannable. Digitalisation makes data visible in processes and thus creates decision-making aids. Petra Stolba, Managing Director of Österreich Werbung [Austrian National Tourist Office], advocated responsible tourism as a counter model to overtourism, which at the same time increases the resilience of tourism. Katharina Ratheiser, granddaughter of Viktor Frankl and Deputy Director of the Viktor Frankl Institute in Vienna, emphasized the importance of finding meaning even in times of crisis. Self-reflection and asking the right questions for the future are important in this respect. She added that this also applies to companies. Besides new insights, this also provides protection against external influences. That defines resilience.

11 // CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

IN SECURITY SECTORS

Bruno Hofbauer, Michael Kranawetter, Sabine Kremnitzer, Helmut Leopold, Sven Szabo // Chair: Friedrich Teichmann // Organisation: Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence (BMLV)

In this session held in cooperation with the BMLV [Ministry of Defence], Friedrich Teichmann, Head of the Institute of Military GeoScience in the Austrian Armed Forces, addressed new technological trends and the generally high degree of dependence on modern technology such as the smartphone. He said that acquiring intelligence information, and superior technologies, are important – especially in the military sector. The IT and Cyber Security Center of the Austrian Armed Forces was briefly presented, and a welcome message from the Minister of Defence, Klaudia Tanner, was shown via video. Colonel Sven Szabo spoke about NATO's Strategic Forward Studies and about the military transformation to be prepared for the demands of the future and the technological race. He also addressed ethical concerns, e.g. regarding the use of AI and autonomous systems. Michael Kranawetter from Gartner spoke on trends in Security and Risk Management as well as on cyber attacks, lack of skills and highly complex systems including their security requirements, for instance in the cloud, which have been in increasing demand since Covid-19. AI and security were another topic. Sabine Kremnitzer, Programme Manager Aerospace at the FFG, presented the national perspective and described the security programmes KIRAS, FORTE and SAFTEY PIN. Helmut Leopold, Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security at AIT, focused on technological trends and underestimated opportunities that even small countries like Austria have when it comes to highly specialized areas such as AI, quantum computing, data management, sensors, 5G or blockchain. When all players work together, even a small country like Austria can become a technology leader, as already is the case in contactless payment and forensic tools.

12 // EUROPE AS PRODUCTION LOCATION

IN TIMES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Daniela Jacob, Kerstin Jorna, Josef Falko Loher, Matthias Pastl, Wim van der Stricht, Tomas Wyns // Chair: Franz Prettenthaler // Organisation: Joanneum Research

In this session, held in cooperation with Joanneum Research, the opportunities and challenges of climate neutrality were discussed, with particular reference to the steel industry. According to Franz Prettenthaler, Director of the LIFE Institute for Climate, Energy and Society, Joanneum Research, the steel sector is responsible for ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This industry therefore requires rapid initiatives in order to become climate-neutral. Daniela Jacob, Director, Climate Service Center Germany, spoke about the state of global warming and the urgent measures that could now be easily achieved with innovations and new green technology. For Kerstin Jorna, Director General for Industry (GROW) of the European Commission, the transformation is not only a necessity due to global warming, but also an opportunity for the economy. In the case of "steel products" such as cars, it is important to consider emissions over the entire life cycle. In this regard, their operation also plays a major role. Tomas Wyns from the IES Institute for European Studies, spoke about the industrial value chain that could be used as a bridge for a CO2-neutral Europe. Wim van der Stricht, CTO Technology Strategy, ArcelorMittal, presented the strategy for CO2 and circular economy for his company, which e.g. also comprises the use of hydrogen. Matthias Pastl of voestalpine Group, Linz, focused on the challenges facing the European steel industry and the question of financing green steel projects. Ultimately, however, global concepts are required as well, he added. According to the panel, a de-industrialized Europe is certainly not a solution for achieving global climate neutrality. Photos: ORF/Hans LeitnerREVIEW #Efatec 2020

Download “Discussing Technology”

Jahrbuch 2020 zu den Alpbacher Technologiegesprächen Viele Menschen nehmen die Welt als zunehmend komplex und unübersichtlich wahr. Und das zu Recht. Nicht zuletzt die Coronapandemie zeigt die enge Verflechtung verschiedenster Bereiche, aus der auch eine hohe Anfälligkeit gegenüber Störungen erwächst. Hand in Hand damit nimmt die Dringlichkeit der großen Herausforderungen zu, vor denen die Menschheit steht – etwa die demografische Entwicklung, der Klimawandel und die Digitalisierung. Alle diese Problemfelder sind systemischer Natur und A NEW VIEW Yearbook 2020 Alpbach Technology Symposium Many people perceive the world as increasingly complex and confusing. They are right. Not least the coronavirus pandemic shows the close interdependence of various areas which entails a high susceptibility to disturbances. Hand in hand, the major challenges of the future – such as demographic development, climate change, and digitalization – are gaining urgency. These issues are systemic in nature and can no longer be dealt with www.ait.ac.at/fileadmin/user_ upload/Jahrbuch_Discussing_

EIN NEUER BLICK AUF DIE IMMER KOMPLEXERE WELT

Technology_2020.pdf lassen sich mit herkömmlichen Mitteln nicht mehr bewältigen. Es wird für die Politik immer schwieriger, die Entwicklungen in eine erwünschte Richtung zu steuern. Das Jahrbuch zu den Alpbacher Technologiegesprächen 2020 widmet sich neuen Sichtweisen und Zugängen, um komplexe Systeme besser verstehen und managen zu können. Neben einem Einblick in die Methoden und Themen der neuen Wissenschaft der Komplexitätsforschung wird in zahlreichen Fachgebieten nachgezeichnet, wie wir mit zunehmender Komplexität umgehen können. Neue Impulse dafür

TO THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WORLD

kommen auch aus der Welt der Künste. using conventional means. It is increasingly difficult for politicians to steer developments in a desirable direction. The yearbook accompanying the 2020 Alpbach Technology Symposium explores new perspectives and approaches in order to better understand and manage complex systems. In addition to insights into the methods and topics of the new science of complexity research, numerous areas show how we can deal with increasing complexity. New impulses also come from the world of arts.