Capital of learning
Vienna has long blazed a trail for pioneering developments thanks to its leading research centres. Home to 26 universities, more than 200 major international corporations and a United Nations headquarters city, it’s the ideal international meeting place for inspiration and making connections
Located in the centre of Europe and offering some of the world’s most magnificent art, music and architecture, Vienna is a city of ideas and cosmopolitan flair. Its key economic sectors include life sciences, urban technologies, creative industries and information and communication technology.
One of the four United Nations HQ cities, it is home to world-class educational and university facilities attracting almost 200,000 students.
The city’s appetite for learning stretches back to the founding of the University of Vienna in 1365. Other high-profile academic centres include the Medical University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, the mdw (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), the campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and the Central European University (CEU).
This fertile ground for new ideas and groundbreaking discoveries makes it the ideal environment for academics, researchers, doctors and scientists. For international associations there is a wealth of inspiration and opportunities for co-operation and innovation.
International knowledge hub
An important research centre and major international knowledge hub, Vienna is amongst the leading European cities when it comes to research spending, with an R&D quota of 4.04 per cent. More than 51,000 people work in research and development in the city.
International groups such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Otto Bock and Siemens are all investing here while top-tier researchers work in IT, mathematics, physics, the life sciences, and the humanities and social sciences.
Vienna is internationally respected for the life sciences, with around 600 companies, research institutions and other organisations working in the sector, many pioneering international R&D achievements, and employing around 41,000 people.
With a proven track record as a life science industry hotspot in Europe, regional clusters such as LISAvienna – a joint initiative of the Vienna Business Agency and the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) – have been supporting companies and thereby promoting the further development of the industry for many years. This concentrated centre of excellence continues to attract investment.
German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has opened a new biotech production facility and is investing in a new research building. Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, with 4,500 employees, is also expanding its Vienna operations with a new EUR 120 million building, scheduled for completion by 2025, which will serve as a research and development centre for biotech drugs. Located in Seestadt Aspern in Vienna’s 22nd district, this is fast becoming the centre for the life sciences.
One of the largest urban development areas in Europe, built on the principles of smart city design and urban innovation, Seestadt Aspern is also home to Austrian pharmaceutical company Hookipa, specialising in immunotherapies to treat cancer and infectious diseases. It is building a new 4,500 sqm quality control lab and office space.
Seamless connectivity
Getting to Vienna is easy for international convention attendees. Vienna International Airport serves more than 160 destinations and most European capitals are two to three hours away. Austrian Airlines, part of Lufthansa Group and a Star Alliance member airline, supports events as an official carrier. Numerous local and international rail connections are a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative. Once in the city, attendees will find it’s easily walkable with excellent public transport.
Making the right connections
Interested in meeting in the international research and knowledge hub Vienna? The Vienna Convention Bureau would be delighted to assist international association event organisers with their next event and also advise on eligibility for the Vienna Meeting Fund, designed to support international meetings in the city.
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