Organisation

Peter Riedler, born in Graz in 1969, holds a doctorate in international law and European law from the University of Graz. His professional career has taken him to the European Parliament in Brussels, the Styrian provincial government, the Federal Chancellery in 2002, focusing on business and research, and to AVL List GmbH in Graz in 2007 as Director of Public Affairs. In 2011, Riedler became Vice Rector, and in December 2021 Managing Rector. He has been the elected Rector of the University of Graz since October 2022.

President, University of Graz

Martin Payer has been Commercial Director of FH JOANNEUM since January 2018. Born in Graz, he previously headed the Polymer Competence Center Leoben. As Managing Director, his activities included establishing and expanding the company into the leading non-university research institution in the field of plastics technology in Austria with over 100 employees. Martin Payer completed his master’s degree in Environmental Systems Science / Business Administration at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz, specializing in innovation management and environmental and resource economics. After completing his studies, he worked briefly in Germany and at the University of Graz. In 2003, Martin Payer moved to the Polymer Competence Center Leoben. From 2011 to 2013, he completed an Executive MBA at Danube University Krems. Martin Payer was also a member of the Supervisory Board of Lenzing AG and Semperit AG for five years.

Commercial Managing Director, FH JOANNEUM

Born in 1967 in Saanen, Switzerland, and raised in Upper Styria, Horst Bischof studied computer science at the Vienna University of Technology, where he earned his doctorate in 1993 and completed his habilitation in 1995. He has been Rector of Graz University of Technology since October 2023. From 2011 to 2023, he served as Vice Rector for Research and, in that capacity, was responsible for the strategic research direction of Graz University of Technology, as well as for research and industry collaborations and technology transfer. Horst Bischof has published nearly 800 scientific papers and has received more than 20 national and international awards for his work. The research portal Research.com lists him as the third most-cited computer scientist in Austria.

President, Graz University of Technology

Heinz Mayer studied telematics at Graz University of Technology, where he gained several years of experience as a university assistant. He then worked at Magna Steyr, where his roles included head of the Information Management division. In 2007, the Graz native joined JOANNEUM RESEARCH and served successfully as deputy director of DIGITAL, the Institute for Digital Technologies, and as research group leader of the “Image Analysis and Measurement Systems” group before taking over as director of DIGITAL in 2013. He has been the Managing Director of JOANNEUM RESEARCH since 2021.

Managing Director, JOANNEUM RESEARCH

Helmut Wiedenhofer studied electrical engineering at Graz University of Technology, specializing in biomedical engineering and high-voltage engineering. After working at SIEMENS Matsushita OHG, he served as a development engineer at the Institute for Electronic Systems Development at JOANNEUM RESEARCH. He is a general authorized signatory at JOANNEUM RESEARCH and heads the Strategic Collaborations & Networks department. Until 2016, he also served as the managing director of NanoTecCenter Weiz, a subsidiary of Graz University of Technology and JOANNEUM RESEARCH. He is particularly committed to the topics of regional development, diversity, and apprenticeship training.

Authorized Signatory and Head of the Strategic Partnerships & Networks Department, JOANNEUM RESEARCH

DDr. Wolfgang Granigg serves as program director for the master’s programs in “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” and “Global Strategic Management” at FH JOANNEUM. He is a long-time lecturer in the Department of Systems Sciences at the University of Graz. Before joining FH JOANNEUM, Mr. Granigg worked in the media industry for nearly 10 years. He holds two doctorates—one in Business Administration (University of Graz) and one in Mathematics (University of Klagenfurt)—and has completed the “Leadership & Management” Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Program Director for “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” and “Global Strategic Management,” FH JOANNEUM

University Professor Dr. Markus Fallenböck, LL.M., has been working on the legal and economic implementation of digital transformation for over 20 years. He is Vice Rector for Human Resources and Digitalization and a university professor of technology and innovation law at the University of Graz. He also serves on the Austrian Federal Government’s AI Advisory Board and heads the IDea_Lab AI Research Center at the University of Graz. Markus Fallenböck is one of the founders of TIS.

Vice Rector for Human Resources and Digitalization, University of Graz

After studying social and economic sciences at the University of Vienna, he spent many years conducting research in the non-university sector, gaining initial experience in the implementation and management of European programs and projects. In 2011, she took over as head of the “European and International Programs” division at the FFG, including leadership of the FFG office in Brussels, to strengthen Austria’s position in the European Research Area. Since October 2023, she has served as Vice Rector for Research at Graz University of Technology.

Vice Rector for Research, Graz University of Technology

After studying social and economic sciences at the University of Vienna, many years of research work in the non-university sector combined with initial experience in the implementation and management of European programs and projects. 2011 took over the management of the “European and International Programs” division of the FFG including the management of the FFG office in Brussels to strengthen the Austrian position in the European Research Area. Since October 2023 Vice Rector Research at Graz University of Technology.

Vice Rector for Research, Graz University of Technology

Peter Riedler, born in Graz in 1969, holds a doctorate in international law and European law from the University of Graz. His professional career has taken him to the European Parliament in Brussels, the Styrian provincial government, the Federal Chancellery in 2002, focusing on business and research, and to AVL List GmbH in Graz in 2007 as Director of Public Affairs. In 2011, Riedler became Vice Rector, and in December 2021 Managing Rector. He has been the elected Rector of the University of Graz since October 2022.

Rector, University of Graz