The more structured the network, the greater its capacity for innovation.

Innovation rarely occurs in isolation. lt develops where companies, research organisations, start-ups and public institutions combine their strengths to be fit for purpose and work together to find solutions.

Analyses show that Linz has some strong individual players. However, economic dynamism arises above all where collaboration between industry, research and start-ups is organised systematically. This enables new ideas to be turned into marketable applications quickly. Greater coordination, a clear division of roles and a shared focus can enhance the effectiveness of the overall system.

lnterdisciplinary approaches are becoming increasingly important. Sustainable innovation is increasingly taking shape at the intersection of technology, creativity, design and societal and social perspectives. lt is in this area, in particular, that the Linz economic region holds particular potential.

A key challenge is to further strengthen collaboration between established companies, research institutions and start-ups, and to enhance the international profile of the region as a centre of innovation. At the same time, the fields of industrial intelligence and clean technologies offer the opportunity to generate new momentum for innovation. lt is especially at the intersection of industry, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and climateneutral technologies that new products, business models and forms of collaboration are emerging. The aim is to harness this potential specifically for the Linz business location.

This requires an innovation ecosystem that systematically supports collaboration, facilitates start-ups and supports companies as they grow. As the City of Linz, we work alongside the Linz group of companies not only as a funding body, but also as an active partner and a testing ground for new technologies, applications and pilot projects. This is a key prerequisite for future growth.

Our role

• Motivator
• Coordinator
• Service partner
• Enabler

Systematically strengthening cooperation

Our aim is to promote structured cooperation between companies, start-ups, the research sector and public administration, and to further develop existing networks - particularly where industrial expertise, digitalisation and sustainable technologies converge. The aim here is not to start from scratch, but to work in consultation together with stakeholders (e.g. universities and universities of applied sciences, Business Upper Austria, tech2b, the hub,ert network, and factory300 at the Tabakfabrik) to identify which services can be expanded:

• Regular networking and matchmaking events betwe en industry, start-ups and the research sector
• Development of new formats such as the Corporate-Start-up Challenge (development of challenge formats in which industrial companies put forward specific innovation questions and develop solutions together with start-ups and students)
• Establishment of a corporate innovation network in the Linz area (systematic networking of industry, Austrian and foreign start-ups, and research institutions)
• Strengthen links between existing innovation and start-up stakeholders in the greater Linz area and promote the identification of common priorities

Successful business locations benefit from strong individuals, mentors and investors who pass on their knowledge and experience.

• Establishment of a network of regional leaders (specific sub-programmes for leaders in excellence and engagement, as weil as for ambassadorial and mentoring leaders and investors)
• Strengthening recognition for leading figures in the region from the fields of research, business and civil society
• Application specific support for particularly innovative projects

Positioning Linz as an innovation and trial environment

Linz is a city where everything is within easy reach and a city with a culture of empowerment. New technologies and business models need real-world applications. Our aim is to raise the profile of Linz as an environment for experimentation and testing. Together with businesses, research organisations and start-ups, we create opportunities to test and further develop innovative solutions in an urban environment.

• Position the city and the group of companies as an active test environment
• Establish challenge formats between city and municipal organisations and start-ups
• Facilitate pilot projects between administration, industry and start-ups