Answers to the "Grand Challenges

FINDING ANSWERS TO THE GRAND CHALLENGES

AIT Managing Directors Anton Plimon and Wolfgang Knoll on AIT's strategic orientation and current research topics.

The corona crisis naturally also poses challenges for AIT. How do the approximately 1,400 employees deal with it? Anton Plimon: We have achieved two important goals: AIT continues to function even under challenging conditions. Research projects are continued in the home office as best they can, communication and collaboration have been advanced virtually. Secondly, many of the issues we are working on are essential for managing the crisis – such as telehealth solutions to provide medical care to people in quarantine, symptom tracking by means of an anonymous online survey, or systems for optimizing the logistics of aid measures. Simulation tools for managing passenger flows in supermarkets or in public transport facilities are important as well. Wolfgang Knoll: Our research in the field of biosensors is also an important contribution: One case in point concerns the development of an odour test which could become a kind of "early indicator" of a Covid-19 infection. With its recognised experience with tools for crisis and disaster management, AIT is also one of the leading partners in the EU STAMINA project. This aims at developing a new system for dealing with future pandemics. 38 partners from more than a dozen countries are jointly developing an intelligent system to support decision-making in predicting and managing pandemics. This system aims at supporting first responders, practitioners, hospital staff as well as pandemic crisis managers in their daily work. We are among the top players here.

In addition to digitisation, decarbonisation plays an essential role in AIT's strategic orientation in infrastructure research. So where do we go from here? WK: We have been pursuing projects in this direction since AIT was founded. We see this as an absolute necessity in order to hand over the world to the next generation in at least the same condition. This also opens up opportunities for the Austrian economy: Thanks to new, more efficient and future-oriented technologies, our competitiveness on the world market is growing. This secures the generation of added value and jobs. AP: A major priority is the decarbonisation of industry: AIT plays a leading role in the Austrian "Energy Showcase Region" on the topic of "New Energy for Industry – NEFI", a unique innovation network that develops solutions for the complete decarbonisation of Austrian industry. These innovations will make a significant contribution to securing industrial locations in Austria and will lay the foundation for climate-friendly technologies "made in Austria". Great importance is attached to the use of waste heat in industry itself, but also outside of it, such as in district heating networks in the vicinity – keyword: Sector coupling. The subject of hydrogen is also becoming increasingly important in this context as well: We see particularly great potential in areas where hydrogen is used both materially and energetically.

What are AIT's priorities in the field of energy research? WK: Energy systems are highly complex. A transformation towards climate neutrality requires not only new individual technologies but also a view of the entire system. Only by viewing the entire value and effect chain is it possible to tap the full innovation potential in terms of holistic climate protection. This system competence is a unique AIT selling point. For example, we can integrate components into real networks in many simulation systems and several special labs where we can test and further develop them under conditions that closely approximate real-world conditions. In our SmartEST lab, we offer reality-oriented research, for example for flexible "smart grids". AP: The energy transition requires the integration of all sectors. We conduct research e.g. into climate-friendly, user-oriented and multimodal mobility. This starts with simulations for optimising the traffic infrastructure and the interoperability of different means of transport and extends to research on e-mobility. Our battery lab has its own production line in which we can further develop lithium-ion batteries. We are active at cell, module and system level here. We are also developing new components and power electronics for highly efficient drive trains of electric vehicles. AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

AIT Managing Directors Anton Plimon (on the right ) and Wolfgang Knoll

WK: The lightweight construction of vehicles also counts among our core competencies. At the Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen (LKR), we are working on innovative methods for the design of light vehicles as well as on the improvement of the material properties and the processing of lightweight materials such as aluminium and magnesium.

Research topics are becoming increasingly complex. How is AIT responding to this challenge? AP: We are pursuing a systemic and interdisciplinary approach and we think beyond conventional disciplines. A good case in point is the "City Intelligence Lab" (CIL) which we opened in autumn 2019. With the CIL, it is possible for the first time to display in real time the effects of changes in planning on the environment, on energy consumption, traffic or comfort during a district planning process. Simulations, methods of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and innovative forms of presentation are used in doing so. This not only allows for a fast, comprehensive and efficient planning process, but also for a hitherto unknown quality in the involvement of future users and public participation. WK: The CIL is also proof that digital technologies will become significantly more important in many decarbonisation measures. At AIT, we are concerned not only with how the computing centres of the future will be more energy-efficient and how "blockchains" can be used in the energy industry, but PROFILE AND HIGHLIGHTS also, and in particular, with the digital security of smart electricity networks by means of suitable system infrastructure and encryption methods. Protection against cyber threats and hacker attacks is just as much an issue here as data protection and privacy.

How much progress have we made towards the "digital factory" or Industry 4.0? AP: Innovative robot systems open new ways to more efficient production. This allows resource efficiency to be increased in the production sector. Furthermore, autonomous production systems will also make it possible to produce more goods in Europe in the future, which not only supports the industrial landscape in Europe but also helps to avoid excessively long transport routes and supply chain dependencies. The corona crisis could lead to a clear trend reversal here. Where do we stand on the issue of the bio-economy from your perspective? WK: Exciting developments are in the making here. For example, we are working on new biological processes that will be essential for a bioeconomy of the future. By using e.g. symbioses between plants and microorganisms, it should be possible to make agriculture more resource-efficient. Moreover, the adaptation to climate change is important in the life sciences: The knowledge gained from research into the stress reactions of plants, such as their response to heat or drought, can be used to breed more resistant plant varieties – including tree species that can withstand rising temperatures. AP: With one thing being very important to us: AIT stands for the development of new technologies in the infrastructure sectors. But that alone is not enough to be able to meet the "Grand Challenges". We therefore also provide a broad scope for social innovations and examine e.g. how people deal with new technologies and how those technologies should be designed to achieve the best possible effect. Or how people adapt their behaviour to changing framework conditions and how societies are changing in the course of technological change and the energy transition. To this end, e.g. major foresight studies are being carried out on behalf of the European Commission. At this level, too, AIT is a major player in the European research landscape.