Vienna/OTS At the Research Forum (FFH) on 7 and 8 April 2021 at FHWien der WKW, universities of applied sciences will show how they develop application-oriented solutions for global challenges.
Once a year, the FFH brings together the research community of universities of applied sciences to present, exchange and discuss current research activities. In 2021, the general theme of the FFH is "Shaping the future responsibly!".
This year's focus is on research activities that contribute to finding solutions to the major challenges of our time. The focus is on the development of sustainable technologies, environmentally friendly solutions in the fields of energy and mobility, sustainable economic concepts and new concepts for health protection. The universities of applied sciences are key institutions in this context, as their research is application-orientated and close to the needs of their regional environment. In this way, they develop solutions that can be quickly implemented by the economy and other social actors. Around 240 research projects are currently assigned to the area of the "European Green Deal". The unity of research and teaching also leads to the establishment of new professional fields and job profiles in this area. Around 78 university of applied sciences degree programmes specialise in mobility, energy, the environment and sustainability.
"The universities of applied sciences thus achieve a double effect. They transfer new technologies and research results to the economy and society and at the same time train highly qualified specialists who are urgently needed. Politicians have clearly communicated this mission to the universities of applied sciences. The "UAS research" lever works, that has been proven. It is now important to make greater use of this lever and to take research into account in future in terms of sustainable, performance-orientated funding. The next UAS development and financing plan would provide an opportunity to do this," says Raimund Ribitsch, President of the Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK), who is very much looking forward to starting talks with BM Faßmann.
"In the coming years, we will need many people who work as climate protection professionals. These are real climate protection jobs - crisis-proof and future-proof. These jobs of the future are being created because we are protecting our climate. The training opportunities offered by universities of applied sciences provide the specialists we need right now - in the fight against the climate crisis. The role of applied research is also of central importance for a climate-friendly future. Corporate and application-oriented research offers us the opportunity to quickly implement technological solutions for the challenges of tomorrow and ensure domestic value creation," says Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler.
Federal Minister Faßmann summarises: "The motto "Shaping the future responsibly" and the wide range of topics covered by the research projects point to the challenges that lie ahead, but also to possible solutions. The diverse research projects of the universities of applied sciences impressively demonstrate how the universities of applied sciences are tackling the so-called "grand challenges" and the European "green transition" project. With their high-quality scientific and practice-orientated training of urgently needed specialists and their projects in the field of applied research and development, Austrian universities of applied sciences are making an indispensable contribution to the responsible shaping of our common future."
Enquiry notes:
Austrian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (FHK)
Kurt Koleznik
Kurt.Koleznik@fhk-alt.local
Phone: +43 664/4244294
kurt.koleznik@fhk-alt.local
www.fhk.ac.at
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
Mathias Klein, BA
Press spokesman for the Federal Minister
0664/88341135
mathias.klein@bmbwf.gv.at
www.bmbwf.gv.at
Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
Florian Berger
Press spokesman for the Federal Minister
01/71162-658010
florian.berger@bmk.gv.at
www.bmk.gv.at