The Green Tech Valley is an excellent breeding ground for research and development, resulting in an R&D rate of 4.7 % and a top position compared to international standards.

In order to quicken the spirit of research even further, the Federation of Styrian Industries, TU Graz and ECO WORLD STYRIA organised the technology forum for energy, energy efficiency and environment for the 7th time in Graz.

Within the frame of this high-profile event, the EU Lifelong Learning Project GADGET (Good Practice Pilot Action for Innovative Industries) used the forum once again to establish the 3rd GADGET Café in order to stimulate dialogue and interaction between business and science.

On April 1st , about 100 research leaders of innovative green-tech companies and research institutions participated in the Cleantech Innovators Club at FH JOANNEUM for the purpose of maintaining the cross-industry exchange as well as to generate new cooperation ideas.

“Branches in flashlight” offered innovative companies inside “Science Park Graz” the opportunity to give a short overview of their developments and current projects. Moreover, experts of the Styrian research and business landscape and the Styrian Business Promotion Agency lectured about projects, thematic priorities and chances.

In the manner of a so-called “world café”, stimulating discussions at different round thematic tables in the field of new project ideas encouraged lateral thinking across all disciplines.

FH JOANNEUM (represented by Rene Wenzel and Lisa Mahajan ) and Jaqueline Egger & Ingrid Kienberger from RUN start up & service centre Fürstenfeld used this special occasion to attract interested participants to the planned training program for employees in Styrian SMEs in the field of energy & environment on the topics of internationalization, market potential analysis, intercultural communication, planning and controlling of R & D projects as well as methods to increase customer loyalty . In order to respond to the needs of the participants as flexible as possible, a questionnaire was developed and launched on site to the participants. .

A highlight of the event was the this year's award ceremony of the Green Tech Challenge . Creative and innovative students have been measured in future-oriented tasks of Styrian top companies and were awarded for their projects. Representatives of Energie Steiermark, Sattler AG and KWB handed over the certificates and winner 's checks to individual and group winners of FH JOANNEUM and university for mining, metallurgy, and materials Leoben.