The visit began at consortium partner Johannes Kepler University Linz and a discussion with Rector Stefan Koch and vice rector Alexander Freischlager.

JKU plays a central role in Austria’s research landscape, particularly as a leading institution for technological innovation, digitalisation and interdisciplinary research. The university also acts as a hub for talent development, innovation and knowledge transfer — bridging academic work with industrial and societal applications. This is also why JKU is an important partner for AI Factory Austria AI:AT in strengthening the connection between research, infrastructure and practical implementation.

Insights into the regional innovation landscape

Further exchanges were with the LIT Open Innovation Center and the Interdisciplinary Transformation University. They provided a closer look at how collaboration is structured in practice, bringing together research, industry and applied development, interdisciplinary approaches to digital transformation.

Building functioning AI ecosystems

Across all meetings, one point remained consistent: effective AI ecosystems depend on close interaction across sectors,

AI Factory Austria contributes to this process by connecting stakeholders, facilitating access to European HPC infrastructure and supporting organisations in applying AI in practice. Its role is not to centralise innovation, but to enable it—providing the conditions for collaboration, experimentation and deployment.

Next steps: upcoming events in Linz

On 11 June, AI Business Lead Ann-Sophie Brenk will represent AI:AT at the Female Tech Summit:
Female Tech Summit https://female-tech-summit.at.

On 17 June, members of AI:AT Team will come back to JKU for an event that will bring together scientists, researchers, startups and AI ecoystem. Information and Registration