Focus on AI: High-ranking political visit to FH Kufstein Tirol
- 05.05.2025
- General
The laboratory manager of the Makers Lab, Markus Ehrlenbach, MSc; Vice Rector Prof. (FH) Dr. Claudia Van der Vorst; CEO Managing Director of the Kufstein Uni, Prof. (FH) Dr. Thomas Madritsch; State Secretary Alexander Pröll, LL.M.; Provincial Councillor MMag.a Dr. Cornelia Hagele; ISK Advisory Board Sebastian Kolland (from left to right).
State Secretary for Digitalization Alexander Pröll, LL. M., and State Councillor MMag. Dr. Cornelia Hagele visited the FH Kufstein Tirol. The focus: the new AI Competence Center, which links research, business and teaching in a pioneering way.
On Friday, May 2, a high-profile delegation paid a visit to the FH Kufstein Tirol. The exclusive tour of the University of Applied Sciences focused on the newly opened Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence, which has developed into a flagship project for the region since it was founded in January 2025.
SCIENCE MEETS POLITICS
The delegation was made up of State Secretary Alexander Pröll, LL. M., Provincial Councillor MMag. Dr. Cornelia Hagele and Sebastian Kolland, member of the advisory board of the International School Kufstein Tirol (ISK). They were welcomed by CEO Managing Director Prof. (FH) Dr. Thomas Madritsch, Vice Rector Prof. (FH) Dr. Claudia van der Vorst and Tobias Stegmann, MSc, Head of the AI Competence Center.
THROUGH THIS CENTER, THE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES IN KUFSTEIN IMPRESSIVELY DEMONSTRATES HOW EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS CAN BE MEANINGFULLY COMBINED.
State Councilor Cornelia Hagele, MMag. Dr.
Quote from the Kronen Zeitung (newspaper)
The tour led through central facilities of the higher education institution, including the Makers Lab, where students work on prototypes, the Media Lab with state-of-the-art audio and video technology, the Automation Lab for the realistic teaching of Industry 4.0 technologies and the Lean Lab, which focuses on efficient production processes. The kubi - Kufstein Library for Science and Leisure was also presented, which was another highlight with its mixture of academic depth and open access.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A KEY TECHNOLOGY
However, the guests' main interest was in the Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence, which has been providing key impetus for research and business cooperation in the region since its opening. Tobias Stegmann explained the working methods and objectives of the facility, which sees itself as a practical innovation center, to the political representatives.
The competence center was initiated by regional companies in close cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol. It supports companies in the development of tailored AI solutions, offers training and advice and works with partners to analyze new fields of application and risks associated with artificial intelligence. The aim is to strengthen the region's competitiveness and promote sustainable occpuational profiles.
THE RESULTS ACHIEVED HERE IN KUFSTEIN ARE A FLAGSHIP EXAMPLE OF PRACTICAL RESEARCH AND REGIONAL INNOVATION.
State Secretary Alexander Pröll, LL.M.
Quote from the Kronen Zeitung (newspaper)
“The Kufstein AI Competence Center heralds a new era of cooperation and innovation and positions the region as a leading location for research into artificial intelligence,” explained FH Rector Prof. (FH) Dr. Mario Döller on the occasion of the opening in January. Financing is provided by a combination of public funds and company participation.
The delegation's visit once again underlined the importance of applied research, networking with industry and modern higher education for Tyrol as a location for innovation.