Eleven million euros for research in Salzburg: With support from the EU and the state of Salzburg, five new research and transfer centers are being set up. Salzburg Research is playing a significant role in establishing two of these centers: the Smart Tourism Hub and the Privacy Engineering Center. These centers will strengthen Salzburg’s innovative power in artificial intelligence, tourism, and data protection and promote targeted knowledge transfer between science and industry.

Today, Innovation Salzburg GmbH officially presented the five new centers to the public. Representatives from politics, science, and business emphasized the importance of joint research initiatives for Salzburg’s future viability as a location. The new transfer centers demonstrate how cooperation and innovation go hand in hand to create sustainable value and increase the region’s competitiveness.

Smart Tourism Hub: Intelligent data for sustainable tourism

The Smart Tourism Hub, a collaboration between Salzburg Research and iSPACE Plus GmbH, is developing an intelligent data infrastructure for the tourism industry. The goal is to integrate mobility, sensors, and real-time data to enhance environmental sustainability, safety, and service quality in the tourism sector.

Data-driven innovations enable sustainable mobility solutions, improved visitor management, and new services for guests and locals.

Privacy Engineering Center: Trust through data protection and AI

At the Privacy Engineering Center, operated jointly by Salzburg Research and FHV – Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, the focus is on trustworthy artificial intelligence. The center studies how data protection and innovation can coexist. According to the principle of “privacy by design,” AI systems are designed from the beginning to ensure data protection, security, and transparency.

This gives Europe a competitive advantage when it comes to companies that want to work responsibly with data and AI.

Five centers for Salzburg’s future

In addition to the two centers involving Salzburg Research, three more facilities are being established:

• AI-BOOST: AI for Healing and Regeneration (Paracelsus Medical Private University and University of Salzburg)
• Green Engineering: Sustainable Materials and the Circular Economy (Salzburg University of Applied Science and iSPACE Plus GmbH)
• Cybersecurity FTZ: Security for Data-Driven Business Models (Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and University of Salzburg)

A total of approximately eleven million euros is being invested in the construction of these centers. Eighty percent of the funding is coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and the remaining twenty percent is coming from the state of Salzburg.

Knowledge that works

With the new transfer centers, Salzburg Research is making a significant contribution to the implementation of WISS 2030, the science and innovation strategy of the State of Salzburg. Research and business are coming together, new technologies are becoming tangible, and Salzburg is becoming a pioneer region for digital and sustainable innovation.

More information about all five centers: Elf Millionen Euro für fünf neue Forschungszentren (Innovation Salzburg)