On October 9, 2024, the “Zukunftstag 2024” took place at the Messe Congress Graz under the motto #bettertogether. Around 1,300 people from business, science, research, and politics came together to highlight existing cooperation in the South of Austria – whether between business and science or across regional borders. For the first time, “Zukunftstag 2024” was jointly organised by the Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG) and JOANNEUM RESEARCH.

One of the highlights: Michael Glitzner-Bernsteiner (Head of Solutions & Research Services) took part in the MICROSESSION of the ACStyria Mobility Cluster. He presented “Innovations for the Digital Transformation of Mobility” and provided exciting insights into our research practice. Key topics included automated driving, the digital cockpit & in-vehicle digital services, and the digitisation of a traffic sign.

The prototype of such a digital traffic sign was presented at the ACStyria Mobility Cluster booth, in collaboration with Karl Kaltenhauser, Managing Director of ITEK Verkehrs- und Beschilderungstechnik GmbH – an example of a successful cooperation in mobility research within the framework of the European Digital Innovation Hub AppliedCPS.

Another highlight of the day was the presentation by Selim Solmaz during the JOANNEUM RESEARCH session on mobility. Under the title “Simulation and Models for Future Mobility Solutions“, he presented the results of the ESRIUM project and gave a fascinating preview of the follow-up project ESERCOM-D, which is led by JOANNEUM RESEARCH. (More about the ESRIUM project. (More about the project ESRIUM)

Additionally, Christoph Pilz, winner of this year’s Styrian Innovation Award, presented his award-winning work, the vehicleCAPTAIN Toolbox. More information about the vehicleCAPTAIN Toolbox can be found here: vehicleCAPTAIN Toolbox

Our technological innovations were also well represented: the ZeroOne was exhibited at the booth of Weitzer Woodsolutions GmbH, while ADD Fusion was presented separately.

The importance of the event was underlined by the high-profile guests, including Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Jo De Boeck, Gaby Schaunig, and Manfred Kainz. Isabell Welpe, Scientific Director of the Bavarian State Institute for Higher Education Research and Planning, also enriched the event with valuable insights.

The “Zukunftstag 2024” was a great success and provided a first-class platform for the exchange of ideas and networking among the key players in the region. VIRTUAL VEHICLE is proud to have been part of this groundbreaking event and looks forward to the future of the Southern Innovation Region with great anticipation.

Fotocredits: Raiser & VIRTUAL VEHICLE