UAR IN:VENT: Networking for Greater Innovation Capacity

Networking for Greater Impact

Competition for innovation has intensified noticeably. Technological developments, global dynamics, and increasing demands from business and industry make one thing clear: speed is becoming a decisive factor. The UAR Innovation Network leverages a key strength of its research ecosystem - collaboration.

With UAR IN:VENT, the UAR Innovation Network hosted its first networking event at the voestalpine Stahlwelt. Around 180 experts from 16 applied research centers came together to establish new connections, showcase their expertise, and initiate concrete collaborations. Under the guiding theme “Accelerating innovation. Creating impact.”, the focus was on personal exchange.

The UAR Innovation Network supports companies - from start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to large industrial corporations - in implementing their innovation projects. To further activate the network’s potential in a targeted way, UAR IN:VENT was launched. The format creates space for intensive exchange, new perspectives, and concrete project ideas. Dialogue between researchers thus becomes a key lever for bringing technological developments into economic and industrial application more quickly.

At the same time, the format also strengthens the identification of researchers with the entire network. UAR IN:VENT highlights that they are part of a large, high-performing research alliance that creates impact far beyond their own organisation. The event provides the opportunity to meet colleagues from other centres in person, recognise shared strengths and develop a stronger sense of community. Especially in an increasingly competitive environment, this network awareness is a key factor: the major challenges and opportunities of the future can be addressed most effectively together.

Focus on Collaboration and Key Technologies

In topic sprints, participants worked at themed tables on key future fields for the region. Topics ranged from the international research and funding landscape to circular economy and advanced materials, as well as digitalization, industrial engineering, and artificial intelligence, including Industrial AI.

Not only the working groups, but also the pitches by the research institutions demonstrated how broad the competencies within the UAR Innovation Network are - and how great the potential becomes when different research focuses are strategically connected.

Strengthening Transfer and Impact

For Upper Austrian Research GmbH (UAR), the research holding company of the Province of Upper Austria, the UAR IN:VENT format represents a consistent step toward further developing collaboration within the network.

“The major challenges in the research system can only be solved together. New forms of collaboration are needed, along with even stronger networking and a clear focus on transfer and impact. UAR IN:VENT is an important step in anchoring these approaches within the UAR Innovation Network and sustainably strengthening the network’s innovative capacity,” says UAR Managing Director DI Dr. Wilfried Enzenhofer, MBA.

In addition to professional exchange, questions of innovation culture were also at the forefront. Impulses from entrepreneur and author Ali Mahlodji and “failure enthusiast” Dejan Stojanovic highlighted that innovation is not driven by technology alone. Interdisciplinary collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, and an open knowledge culture are also crucial.

With UAR IN:VENT, the UAR Innovation Network is sending a clear signal: Upper Austria is strengthening its research and innovation capacity through targeted networking, strategic key technologies, and a consistent focus on impact. Innovation is to be brought into practice even faster—as a contribution to the competitiveness of business, industry, and the region.

Photos of the event can be found at www.cityfoto.at.