International Talent as a Key to Austria’s Competitiveness

How can international talent help secure the competitiveness of Austria as a business and industrial hub? This was the central question addressed at the “FOCUS INDIA – Talent for Austrian Industry” event, to which the Internationalization Center Styria (ICS) invited representatives from business, academia, and public institutions to Graz.

The focus was on the opportunities arising from closer cooperation with India – a country that has developed into a global hub for innovation, technology, and talent in recent years. Discussions also centered on how Austrian companies can benefit from international professionals and what role universities can play in connecting talent with industry. Since the launch of the ICS India country focus in 2023, more than 30 events, delegation trips, trade missions, and specialist seminars have been carried out. The goal is to sustainably strengthen economic and institutional ties between Austria and India and to unlock new potential for companies.

Distinguished guests at the event included Horst Bischof, Rector of TU Graz, Andrea Höglinger and Stefan Vorbach, Vice Rector of TU Graz, as well as Peter Moser, Rector of the Montanuniversität Leoben. Also in attendance were Susanne Feiel, Director of International Relations and European University, and Clemens Weihs, Team Lead Strategic Partnerships at the Montanuniversität Leoben.

Industry was also strongly represented: representatives from AVL, KNAPP, EFKON, and ZETA took the opportunity to exchange views on current developments and discuss new possibilities for cooperation in the field of international talent.

Moderated by Clara Lenz and with introductory remarks by ICS authorized signatory Daniela Guss, Horst Bischof, Rector of TU Graz, opened the program and emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation with India. Susanne Feiel then presented the goals and activities of the TU Austria Focus India Initiative. The alliance of TU Graz, TU Wien, and the Montanuniversität Leoben aims to attract outstanding students from India to Austria, expand academic partnerships, and build long-term bridges between education, research, and industry. The initiative is part of the TU Austria–India Agreement and is intended to make a lasting contribution to strengthening Austria’s competitiveness.

A highlight of the event was the panel discussion moderated by Andrea Höglinger. Horst Bischof, Susanne Feiel, Alfred Marchler (CEO of ZETA Holding), and Veronika Wolf (CEO of CINT Club International) discussed the opportunities international talent presents for Austria, successful models of cooperation between universities and businesses, and the need to position Austria even more visibly on the international stage as an attractive place to study and work.
The panelists agreed that international professionals not only offer a response to current labor market challenges, but can also make a significant contribution to innovation, competitiveness, and long-term growth.

The subsequent networking session focused on personal exchange between students and companies. A total of 20 Indian students, who are already studying in Austria as part of the TU Austria Focus India Initiative, used the event as a platform to connect with representatives of Austrian companies.

Contacts were made, career prospects explored, and concrete opportunities for internships and career entry discussed. The conversations impressively demonstrated how important direct exchange between international talent and domestic industry is for successful integration into the Austrian labor market.

The initiative shows the potential that can be unlocked when universities, companies, and institutions work together on a long-term strategy. Initiatives such as Focus India make an important contribution to attracting international talent to Austria, fostering innovation, and sustainably strengthening the competitiveness of the location.
A heartfelt thank you to all speakers, panelists, company representatives, and participants for the fascinating insights, open exchange, and numerous new ideas.