Knowledge bears the future: Infineon supports children at Caritas learning cafés in Carinthia and Styria

Business & Financial Press

Oct 13, 2025

Villach, Graz, October 9, 2025 - Commitment to equal opportunities: Infineon Austria has

been supporting four Caritas Lerncafés in Carinthia and Styria financially as well as with various activities and volunteer work by Infineon employees for six years. In recent days, around 110 children from the Caritas learning cafés in Villach, Spittal/Drau, Graz and Mürzzuschlag have been equipped with "knowledge carrier" backpacks full of school supplies. With this initiative, Infineon is not only making it easier for children to start school, but also awakening an interest in technology. 

Microchips explained the easy way

After Infineon Austria CFO Jörg Eisenschmied handed over the "Knowledge Carrier" backpacks, he invited the children on an exciting journey of discovery into the world of microchips. With vivid and interactive explanations and chips to touch, she showed how technological innovations influence our lives every day and make them possible in the first place - be it in smartphones, household appliances or cars.

Sabine Herlitschka, CEO Infineon Austria: "Promoting education is one of the most important investments in our society. We not only want to provide children with school materials, but also open doors to new things, encourage them to acquire knowledge and follow their curiosity. Our long-standing partnership with Caritas and the learning cafés is an example of how close cooperation between companies and social institutions can lead to the development of an 'educational society'."

Jörg Eisenschmied, CFO of Infineon Austria: "We have been supporting the children in the Caritas learning cafés with great conviction and pleasure for six years. The Caritas Lerncafés make an indispensable contribution to equal opportunities and educational justice. Together we create opportunities to develop potential and initiate positive change."

Cooperation that works - support also in Graz and Mürzzuschlag

Infineon is also actively involved in Graz and Mürzzuschlag. The filled backpacks were handed over personally by Stefan Rohringer, Head of the Development Centers at Infineon Austria. He emphasized the importance of the cooperation with the Caritas Lerncafés: "It is always a pleasure for me to see the children's smiling faces. A big thank you goes to our learning assistants, who make an invaluable contribution with their commitment and patience. We not only want to provide support, but also encourage curiosity and perspectives - and who knows, maybe one of these children will one day become a creative mind in research and development."

Paving the way and developing potential

The Caritas learning cafés look after pupils aged six to 15 and offer them free afternoon supervision by trained and voluntary learning assistants. Here, children can do homework, study for tests and strengthen their social skills. For disadvantaged families in particular, this service is proving to be indispensable - especially in times of economic and social uncertainty. 

The successes speak for themselves: last school year, 100 percent of the children looked after in the Villach and Spittal/Drau learning cafés completed the school year with a positive result. In Graz and Mürzzuschlag, 96 percent of the pupils successfully completed school. These impressive figures show how important initiatives like this are for equal opportunities in education. 

105,000 euros for the Caritas learning cafés in Carinthia and Styria

With the Infineon Education Fund, which has been in existence since 2020, Infineon Austria is making an important contribution to supporting disadvantaged children and young people. In 2025, a total of EUR 105,000 was made available to support around 110 children and young people in Villach, Spittal/Drau, Graz and Mürzzuschlag. In addition, eight Infineon employees volunteer as learning assistants in the Caritas learning cafés. 

Ernst Sandriesser, Caritas Director Carinthia: "We are in agreement! Socially disadvantaged children who have no one to support them at school need our help. Every year without support is a year lost. That is why we have been running learning cafés in Carinthia for 15 years. I would like to thank Infineon Austria for the long-standing partnership, the trust and the valuable support - both financially and through Infineon employees who volunteer as learning assistants. Education as an essential factor for the professional and social development of children is the best prevention of poverty."

Thomas Ferk, Vice Director of Caritas in Styria, says: "I am delighted that the pupils can learn here in such a pleasant atmosphere. Education is the key to a self-determined life. It opens the door to integration and is the prerequisite for a life in secure social circumstances. Those who get to know and use their skills and talents are better able to shape their lives according to their own wishes and ideas. Caritas learning cafés are more than just rooms for tutoring - in the learning cafés, the joy of learning is conveyed and social skills are strengthened. We would like to thank our sponsor Infineon for this important support."

 

Contact and queries:

Infineon Austria

Communications & Public Policy

Michelle Sommer

Tel.: +43 676 82058984

E-Mail: michelle.sommer@infineon.com

Siemensstraße 2, 9500 Villach

 

Caritas Steiermark

Kommunikation und Medienarbeit

Irmgard Rieger

Tel.: +43 676 88015 173

E-Mail: Irmgard.Rieger@caritas-steiermark.at

Grabenstraße 39, 8010 Graz

 

Caritas Kärnten

Pressestelle

Ingrid Worofka

Tel.: +43 676 613 35 13

E-Mail: i.worofka@caritas-kaernten.at

Sandwirtgasse 2, 9010 Klagenfurt

About Infineon Austria

Infineon Technologies Austria AG is a subsidiary of Infineon Technologies AG, a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. Semiconductors are essential for mastering the energy-related challenges of our time and helping to shape the digital transformation. Infineon's microelectronics drive decarbonization and digitalization and enable groundbreaking solutions for green and efficient energy, clean and safe mobility as well as a smart and secure IoT.

Infineon Austria 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, Innsbruck and Vienna. With 5,977 employees (including around 2,500 in research and development) from 78 nations, the company generated revenue of EUR 4.8 billion in the 2024 fiscal year (ending 30 September). With research expenditure of 686 million euros, Infineon Austria is the strongest research company in Austria.

Further information is available at www.infineon.com/austria

Press Photos

Infineon learning cafe Villach

Infineon learning cafe Villach

Villach, back, f.l.t.r.: Jörg Eisenschmied, CFO Infineon Austria, Ernst Sandriesser, Caritas Director Carinthia, Roberta Striedinger, Caritas Fundraising; front: Children of the Infineon learning cafe Villach

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Infineon learning cafe Villach

Infineon learning cafe Villach

Villach: Chief Financial Officer Jörg Eisenschmied invited the children on an exciting journey of discovery into the world of microchips.

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Infineon learning cafe Villach

Infineon learning cafe Villach

Villach: Children learn about clean rooms through play.

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Infineon learning cafe Villach

Infineon learning cafe Villach

Villach: Children of the Villach learning cafe

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Infineon learning cafe Graz

Infineon learning cafe Graz

Graz, f.l.t.r.: Infineon learning assistant Doris Schimpl, Caritas Styria deputy director Thomas Ferk, Infineon Graz site manager Stefan Rohringer, Graz learning cafe managers Julia Bretterklieber and Tamino Pobeheim, Infineon learning assistant Isabella Biedermann

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Infineon learning cafe Graz

Infineon learning cafe Graz

Handover of the knowledge carrier backpacks by Stefan Rohringer.

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