On Friday, 21st June 2024, the Technology Transfer Office of the University of Vienna hosted the notable networking event, "UniVie Connect 2024: Advancing AI Together." This gathering brought together 27 University of Vienna researchers and 40 industry leaders, in collaboration with weXelerate and AI Austria, to foster impactful connections and broaden engagement.
Held at the weXelerate premises, the event provided a prime venue for exchanging insights on AI, exploring interdisciplinary collaborations, and sharing perspectives from various academic and industrial sectors. The proceedings, moderated by Clara Conrad-Billroth, began with opening remarks by Tobias Reckling, Head of Knowledge Exchange, Technology Transfer & National Funding at the University of Vienna; Clemens Böhmer, Co-CEO of weXelerate; and Peter Tschuching from INiTS.
Prominent sessions included keynote speeches and a panel discussion featuring both university researchers and industry experts. Prof. Nikolaus Forgó, Head of the Department of Innovation and Digitalization in Law, delved into the AI Act and its implications. Prof. Claudia Plant, Head of the Research Group for Data Mining and Machine Learning, discussed her cutting-edge research.
From the industry side, Michaela Albrecht and Christoph Merte from Erste Digital spoke about the challenges and uncertainties associated with AI tools in everyday operations. Lexander Brouwer, AI Program Lead at OMV, discussed the company's initiatives for transformative growth through strategic partnerships.
The panel discussion moderated by Arushi Jain highlighted the disruptive impact of AI across various fields and the European Union’s positioning in the global AI development race. The event concluded with inspiring remarks by Ronald Maier, Vice-Rector for Digitalisation and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Vienna.
Networking opportunities spanned the event, from lunchtime interactions to evening meetings. Special displays included a VR set and a trash sculpture by Prof. Jörg Menche’s group, along with showcases by Qubo, a spin-off from the University of Vienna.
We extend our gratitude to our cooperation partners weXelerate and Wissenstransferzentrum Ost, and to our community partner, AI Austria, for making this event a success.
