A groundbreaking week lies behind a delegation of companies and institutions from Lusatia, which explored the Austrian business world from March 12 to 15, 2024. Led by the IHK Cottbus, the delegation traveled to Vienna to explore the potential for cooperation and business development.
The participants of this intensive business trip represented a wide range of industries, including energy and renewable energies, construction project development, innovation management, research and development, as well as CO2-neutral solutions. Leading companies representing Lusatia included IBAR Systemtechnik GmbH, Lausitzer Stahlbau Ruhland, the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) at HZDR, Metall- und Balkonbau Hansmann GmbH, AGT Akademie für Gestaltung und Technologie GmbH, and of course the initiative "Mining & Generation Technology - Made in Germany" (short: MinGenTec).
The highlight of the visit was probably the 7th German-Austrian Technology Forum, organized by the German Chamber of Commerce in Austria and Fraunhofer Austria. This year, it focused on the topics of digitization, renewable energies, and skilled labor shortages, featuring prominent representatives from industry and academia. Prof. Dr. Antonio Krüger, Managing Director and Scientific Director of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), emphasized in his keynote the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the economy, while discussions were held on the integration of AI into industry and the importance of sustainable innovations for the future. The delegation also seemed impressed by the contribution of Mr. Thorsten Kramer from LEAG in Cottbus, who presented the energy transition of the South Brandenburg region.
Another highlight was the visit to "SMART CITY" Vienna and the aspern Seestadt, operated by Wien 3420 AG. It is considered the largest urban expansion project in Europe in the 21st century. This newly emerging district in Vienna is designed as a self-sufficient city within a city, powered by renewable energy and built from ecological materials. It is characterized by sustainable urban transport and generous green spaces. This project left a particular impression on the delegation.
The business trip to Austria marks an important step in exploring new opportunities for Lusatian companies and strengthening already existing international relationships, once again demonstrating the region's commitment to innovation and sustainable development.