New FORWIT management appointed
The appointment of Thomas König as the new Managing Director of FORWIT as of 1 May 2024 will set an important course for the organisation of the Council’s work.
Thomas König studied political science and history in Vienna and Copenhagen. From 2010 to 2014, he was Scientific Advisor to the President of the European Research Council (ERC); after research stays at the Universities of Minnesota and Harvard, among others, he was most recently Head of Strategy and Scientific Services at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS). He has published numerous articles on innovation and science policy. His dissertation on transatlantic science diplomacy was published by Studienverlag in 2012 and his book on the creation of the ERC by Polity Press in 2017. König is an experienced science manager and is recognised as an expert on the Austrian and European innovation system.
Thomas Henzinger, Chair of the Council, commented on the appointment of Thomas König, “I am delighted that we have been able to recruit a proven expert in Thomas König for the important task of managing the new FORWIT.”
Thomas König prevailed over 69 competitors in the selection process. “The Supervisory Board had the exciting and at the same time difficult task of finding the most suitable candidate for the management of FORWIT from a number of highly interesting applications and competent personalities. There is broad agreement in the Supervisory Board that this has been achieved with the appointment of Thomas König,” said the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Martin Netzer. The Supervisory Board, on which the Climate Protection Ministry (BMK), the Labour and Economy Ministry (BMAW), the Finance Ministry (BMF) and the Federal Chancellery (BKA) are also represented, is responsible for appointing the Management Board.
Netzer also thanked the previous Managing Director of the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development, Ludovit Garzik, and the previous Managing Director of the Austrian Science Council, Nikolaus Possanner. “Both have managed the business of FORWIT responsibly during the transition period and ensured that the newly appointed Council and the new management can build on a functioning organisational structure.”
See also the BMBWF press release.
