FH Upper Austria focuses on customized solutions for Upper Austria’s economy

Upper Austria is on its way to becoming a hub for artificial intelligence (AI). Time and again, research achievements and companies from the region attract attention far beyond its borders, placing the local AI scene in the international spotlight. FH-Prof. PD DI Dr. Michael Affenzeller, Academic Director and one of the leading figures in AI research at FH Upper Austria, emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches: “Our competitive advantage for businesses lies in solutions that are precisely tailored to their needs—not in off-the-shelf AI.”

Around 200 representatives from business and academia came together at FH Upper Austria’s major AI event at the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Linz to initiate concrete collaborations. Currently, more than 120 research projects at FH Upper Austria have a focus on AI. The university concentrates its AI research on areas that provide particular momentum for Upper Austria as a business location—namely industry, production and logistics, life sciences, and process optimization in the economy.

From research to implementation with short lead times

“A particular strength of Upper Austria lies in the close integration of science and industry under the umbrella of applied research. In the field of AI, FH Upper Austria not only supports large flagship companies but also equips SMEs with the necessary skills to motivate them to adopt AI solutions. This helps us quickly scale AI adoption across the board,” says Markus Achleitner, Provincial Councillor for Economic Affairs and Research, who personally engaged in numerous discussions with interested participants.

Companies bring concrete research needs to FH Upper Austria

Business representatives took part in topic-specific workshops to engage directly with FH Upper Austria’s experts. Around 60 participants, for example, attended the workshop on AI in industrial production. Key questions included: Can AI be used to analyze market influences, optimally align production with energy prices, or ensure product quality despite fluctuating raw material properties?

“Companies clearly articulated the challenges they face in their day-to-day operations. This helps us identify the research services the business community needs and the skills we must integrate into our AI-related degree programs,” summarizes FH-Prof. DI Dr. Michael Rabl, MBA, President of FH Upper Austria.

FH-Prof. PD Dr. Affenzeller sees FH Upper Austria as ideally positioned, as “methodological expertise is developed at the Hagenberg campus, while the other faculties in Wels, Linz, and Steyr focus on specific application fields.” A key pillar is the Hagenberg-based research group HEAL (Heuristic and Evolutionary Algorithms Laboratory), led by Affenzeller himself.

Making AI accessible

To demonstrate that AI can also inspire and amaze, FH Upper Austria invited renowned simulation researcher Dr. Niki Popper for a keynote.

“What happens and why? AI combined with simulation is a decisive tool in answering this question—but it can only do so based on historical data,” says Popper, who illustrated this with two examples from his work as a researcher and entrepreneur. One case focused on analyzing delays in the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) network to help prevent them. Another example highlighted AI-supported simulations used to prioritize vaccinations and allocate budgets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Complex decision-making situations exist across all areas of society, including politics. Experts like Niki Popper help reduce barriers to new technologies such as AI by clearly explaining their practical applications through real-life examples,” says Achleitner, referring to the opening remarks by Dr. Gerald Silberhumer, Director of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce. He emphasized that the success of AI depends not only on the availability of large datasets but also on companies’ willingness to embrace it.

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