TECHNOLOGY PARK VILLACH OPENS ITS DOORS TO CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Go behind the scenes: On Friday, 16 October, Technology Park Villach invites the public to explore its campus in St. Magdalen as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. Visitors can discover the work of companies, research institutions and educational organizations, with opportunities to visit laboratories, explore workspaces and learn about current projects that are not normally open to the public.

Twenty-five years of Technology Park Villach mark the successful transformation of a former industrial site into a diverse campus where business, research and education are closely interconnected. Since the opening of its first building in 2001, the technology park has continued to evolve. Today, more than 40 companies and organizations are based here, making the site an important center for research, education and innovation. As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Technology Park Villach invites the public to its Open Day on Friday, 16 October, offering an opportunity to discover the campus and its wide range of activities. The anniversary celebrations begin the previous evening with an exclusive event for supporters and long-standing partners.

DISCOVER RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION

From 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, visitors can attend the Open Day free of charge and explore different locations across the campus, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at the diverse activities taking place at the technology park. The High Tech Campus Villach (HTCV), the organizational hub of the site, serves as the starting point for exploring the campus. From there, visitors can discover participating companies, research institutions and educational partners, gaining insights into their day-to-day work, current projects and innovative technologies.

Participants include CU – Carinthia University of Applied Sciences / Hochschule Kärnten, which will open its laboratories to visitors, including the Admire Lab and its media technology lab, as well as build!, Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) and GPS. One of the highlights is the opportunity to visit Austria’s largest research cleanroom, operated by Silicon Austria Labs. At the Mini Educational Lab, children and families can also discover research and technology in an engaging and accessible way.

Another special highlight is the Meet & Greet with quantum physicist Dr. Beatrix Hiesmayr from IT in Linz. The previous evening, she will deliver a keynote address at the anniversary celebration entitled “No Quantum Computer Without Microelectronics”. On the day of the Open Day, she will be available in the auditorium from 10:00 to 11:00 am to answer questions and talk with visitors. Using a quantum demonstration kit, she will offer an accessible introduction to the fascinating world of quantum physics and quantum technologies:

“In everyday life, we will never see a person pass through two separate doors at the same time. In the quantum world, however, particles can exist in several possible states simultaneously. These unusual properties form the basis of emerging technologies, from powerful quantum computers to secure quantum communication.”

The Meet & Greet connects the fundamentals of quantum physics with the technological developments of tomorrow, highlighting the importance of microelectronics as a key field of research and development at Technology Park Villach.

Technology Park Villach is easily accessible by public transport, making it convenient to get to the Open Day. Bus routes 8 and 3 connect the site with the city center every 30 minutes. At the main railway station, route 9 becomes route 3, allowing passengers travelling from areas such as Möltschach to reach the technology park without changing buses. For those arriving by car, two public parking lots will be available free of charge on the day: one on the left before the entrance to the site and another opposite SAL within the technology park.

FROM PULP MILL TO TECHNOLOGY HUB

The history of the site stretches back well beyond the anniversary. Around 120 years ago, a pulp mill shaped the area; today, it has evolved into an internationally oriented center for technology and research.

The foundations for this transformation were laid in the late 1990s as part of the City of Villach’s technology initiative. Today, around 700 people work at the site, approximately 1,000 students pursue their education here, and around 70 apprentices receive their training on campus. Together with the companies based here, the campus brings business innovation, applied research, education and professional training together in one location. Key areas of focus include microelectronics, mechatronics, geoinformatics, renewable energy and geomatics.

Today, Technology Park Villach exemplifies the successful transformation of the site and its emergence as an important center for technology, research and education, with significance extending well beyond Villach.