AI Factory Austria: Important milestone for Austria

Initiative adopts recommendations of FORWIT and the AI Advisory Board and contributes to increasing European and Austrian competitiveness and innovative capacity.

The chairmen of FORWIT and the AI Advisory Board, Thomas Henzinger and Horst Bischof, welcome the establishment of an AI Factory in Austria announced today and congratulate the consortium of Advanced Computing Austria (ACA), the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and their scientific and industrial partners.

Back in October, the two bodies presented joint recommendations on the development and utilisation of AI technologies in Austria. Among other things, FORWIT and the AI Advisory Board advocated the establishment of an independent national competence centre for artificial intelligence. ‘The AI Factory Austria and its AI Factory Hub are thanks to the effective collaboration of many stakeholders and are impressive proof of how well the nascent ecosystem in Austria is already working. The hub encompasses key elements of the centre of excellence we are calling for. In addition to service and training offers for different levels and target groups, the low-threshold access to modern AI infrastructure for research projects through to productive tasks should be emphasised in particular,’ says Horst Bischof, Chairman of the Advisory Board for AI. An efficient infrastructure and operational support from experts can accelerate the necessary transformation of industry and administration and thus strengthen Austria as a centre of innovation.

FORWIT and AI Advisory Board call for a comprehensive AI agenda

In view of the increasing speed and dynamism with which artificial intelligence technologies are developing and penetrating all areas of life and the economy, it is also to be hoped that the new federal government will prioritise the topic of artificial intelligence through the State Secretariat in the Federal Chancellery. This would fulfil another joint demand of the FORWIT and AI Advisory Board. ‘In the interests of national and European competitiveness, the federal government is called upon to act quickly in order to make the AI location attractive and fit for the future. With the kick-off of the FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence Bilateral AI last week and the AI Factory Austria this week, the first important milestones have been achieved. Further steps should follow immediately,’ appeals Thomas Henzinger, Chairman of FORWIT. In particular, an updated, comprehensive Austrian AI agenda is urgently needed, emphasise Bischof and Henzinger.