AT-C³ at FFG Forum 2026: Strengthening Austria’s Innovation and Technology Ecosystem

At the FFG Forum 2026 in Vienna, AT-C³ was represented by Lukas Lassbacher, who presented the Austrian Chips Competence Center and its role in strengthening Austria’s semiconductor and innovation ecosystem.

The forum brought together representatives from research, business, politics and technology to discuss how Austria can secure its future competitiveness through research, technology and innovation.

A central message throughout the forum was that research and innovation are essential foundations for Austria’s future prosperity and economic growth. At the same time, the existing framework for innovation needs to become more effective.

Less bureaucracy, easier access to funding and improved conditions for innovative companies and research institutions were highlighted as important steps towards enabling more ideas to reach the market and create value in Austria.

The discussions also addressed the ambition of returning to around 2% economic growth and the role that innovation policy can play in achieving this goal. Rather than viewing economic development separately from research and technology, the forum emphasized their close connection: strong research creates new knowledge, innovation turns it into applications, and successful companies create economic and societal impact.

Supporting Austrian Startups and Scale-ups

One of the key discussions focused on the scale-up challenge in Austria and Europe.

Austria has a strong research landscape and an increasingly dynamic startup ecosystem. However, promising companies often face difficulties when moving from the startup phase into international growth.

A major bottleneck is the availability of capital for growth phases. The discussion highlighted the need for better conditions that allow successful Austrian companies to scale, grow internationally and maintain their technological expertise and value creation in Austria.

For an innovation ecosystem such as AT-C³, connecting startups, established companies, research institutions and funding opportunities is therefore particularly important.

Strong networks can help turn technological expertise into concrete collaborations and new business opportunities.

Strategic Technologies: AI, Quantum and Microelectronics

The discussions at the FFG Forum also highlighted the importance of strategic technologies for Austria’s future. Artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and microelectronics are increasingly interconnected and are becoming critical foundations for industrial competitiveness.

Technological sovereignty does not necessarily mean developing every technology independently. Rather, it requires the knowledge, skills, infrastructure and networks to understand, develop and strategically use key technologies.

This is particularly relevant for Austria’s semiconductor ecosystem. Through AT-C³, Austrian companies and research institutions can gain access to specialized expertise, infrastructure and European technology networks, strengthening their ability to participate in emerging semiconductor value chains.

From Scientific Questions to Economic Impact

One of the most memorable ideas of the forum was: “Science starts innovation by raising the important questions.”

The discussions emphasized that major technological breakthroughs rarely happen overnight. They are built on years of scientific work, continuous development and countless smaller advances. For Austria, maintaining a strong research base is therefore just as important as creating effective pathways from research to application.

The challenge is to ensure that knowledge generated in Austrian universities and research institutions can increasingly translate into new technologies, innovative products, successful companies and economic value within Austria.

Sustainability as an Opportunity for Austria

Sustainability and technological development were also discussed in the context of Austria’s future competitiveness. Green technologies were highlighted not only as a means of addressing environmental challenges, but also as an opportunity to create new value chains, strengthen Austrian industry and develop future-oriented business models.

The discussions also touched on the growing importance of dual-use technologies and the need to consider both their societal benefits and security implications. The key question is how technologies can be developed and deployed where they generate the greatest value for society and the economy.

Networking and New Connections for AT-C³

Beyond the presentations and panel discussions, the FFG Forum 2026 provided valuable opportunities for networking. Lukas Lassbacher used the event to represent AT-C³, exchange ideas with representatives from Austria’s research and innovation landscape and establish new connections for the AT-C³ network.

The forum reinforced an important message for Austria’s technology ecosystem: strong research, effective innovation support, access to capital and close collaboration between science and industry are essential for turning Austria’s technological strengths into future growth and value creation.

For AT-C³, the FFG Forum was therefore not only an opportunity to present the Austrian Chips Competence Center, but also to contribute to the ongoing discussion about Austria’s technological future and the role of microelectronics in strengthening the country’s innovation and industrial ecosystem.