Fraunhofer Austria establishes KI4LIFE Innovation Center in Carinthia - joint press release

Oct 2, 2019 | Business & Financial Press

Klagenfurt, October 2, 2019 – Carinthian companies are now to be supported in their digitization drives and artificial intelligence efforts – a field that will be of central relevance for the future – by a high-powered team of economic stakeholders, companies and research institutions.

Since its foundation in the year 2008, Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH has supported companies of all sizes and active in all lines of industries as an independent partner with know-how and expertise. The company has now opened an innovation center dedicated to "Digitization and Artificial Intelligence" – KI4LIFE for short – in Klagenfurt; this is the fourth business location to join Vienna, Graz and Wattens, where more than 70 employees are currently working on applicationoriented solutions. A first team of scientists took up work on 1 October; with their concrete solutions, they will provide support to Carinthian companies in living up to the challenges of digitization. It is planned to increase the staff to 15 full-time employees in the medium-term, while further growth to 30 scientists is envisaged for the long term. The Innovation Center will initially be located in the immediate vicinity of Klagenfurt University, in Universitätsstraße 102, before it will be relocated to Lakeside Park in July 2020.

A close alliance of strong partners has made this center possible. Fraunhofer provides top know-how and a network consisting of 72 institutes and more than 26,000 researchers worldwide. Leading Carinthian companies such as Infineon Austria contribute their expertise, their network and their demands. The Economic Chamber of Carinthia, the Austrian Economic Chamber and the Federation of Austrian Industry create the direct links between the Innovation Center and companies; and the City of Klagenfurt and the Federal State of Carinthia will support the Center. Seven research groups from the Faculty of Technical Sciences of Klagenfurt University are carrying out research in fields closely related to the research focus of the Center and will develop synergies through cooperation. Future cooperation schemes with Joanneum Research and the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences are planned beyond the current consortium. With its application-oriented research, KI4LIFE will create the link between university research and industry.

The work with the university, which includes knowledge exchanges plus cooperation input for demanding industrial projects, is one of the three pillars of the activity profile of KI4LIFE. Another important aspect is contract research in the framework of project activities, and this will also be the economic basis of the Center. The third pillar is analysis and consulting for small and medium-sized enterprises. Well-established tools such as the "Consulting Cheque" will be used for this purpose. Continued qualification of employees, plus training and education in general, play a vital role in the portfolio of the Innovation Center.

About Infineon Austria

Infineon Technologies Austria AG is a group subsidiary of Infineon Technologies AG, a world-leading provider of semiconductor solutions that make life easier, safer and greener. Microelectronics from Infineon reduce the energy consumption of consumer electronics, domestic appliances and industrial facilities. They make a major contribution to the convenience, security and sustainability of vehicles, and enable secure transactions in the Internet of Things. 

Besides Germany, Infineon Austria is the only subsidiary within the group that pools competencies for research and development, production as well as global business responsibility. The head office is in Villach, with further branches in Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Vienna. With 4,201 employees from around 60 countries (including 1,813 in research and development), in the financial year 2018 (ending in September) the company achieved a turnover of € 2.9 billion. An R&D expense rate of €498 million makes Infineon Austria the strongest industrial research company in Austria.

Press Photos

  • Governor Peter Kaiser, Fraunhofer Austria Managing Director Wilfried Sihn and Infineon Austria CEO Sabine Herlitschka are delighted that the Fraunhofer Austria Innovation Center KI4LIFE has been brought to Carinthia. Copyright: Fraunhofer Austria
    Governor Peter Kaiser, Fraunhofer Austria Managing Director Wilfried Sihn and Infineon Austria CEO Sabine Herlitschka are delighted that the Fraunhofer Austria Innovation Center KI4LIFE has been brought to Carinthia. Copyright: Fraunhofer Austria
    Fraunhofer Innovationszentrum KI4LIFE_1

    JPG | 2.3 mb | 2657 x 1772 px

  • All key players from business, politics, research and education are pulling in the same direction in this project. Copyright: Fraunhofer Austria
    All key players from business, politics, research and education are pulling in the same direction in this project. Copyright: Fraunhofer Austria
    Fraunhofer Innovationszentrum KI4LIFE_4

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  • Fraunhofer Austria establishes KI4LIFE Innovation Center in Carinthia. Copyright: Fraunhofer Austria
    Fraunhofer Austria establishes KI4LIFE Innovation Center in Carinthia. Copyright: Fraunhofer Austria
    Fraunhofer Innovationszentrum KI4LIFE_3

    JPG | 2.7 mb | 2657 x 1772 px

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