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At the WKO Styria Sustainability Day on June 24, 2026, representatives from business, academia, and practice discussed the role of sustainable business practices in securing the future viability of companies. The ICS was once again represented with an information booth and actively contributed to the program with a panel discussion.
In her opening remarks, WKO Styria Vice President Gabi Lechner emphasized that sustainability is increasingly understood as an economic lever. Responsibility, innovation, and efficiency are not opposites, she noted, but essential prerequisites for long-term business success and for strengthening regional value creation.
Prof. Karl Rose provided another key input. He made it clear that the challenges of transformation today lie less in a lack of technology and more in combining investment, suitable framework conditions, and long-term planning.
As part of the ICS panel discussion “Rethinking Industry: From a Linear Economy to Circular Action”, Leonarda Bregovic discussed the importance of the circular economy for the international competitiveness of businesses together with experts Bernadette Triebel-Wurzenberger (Saubermacher), Alexandra Kick (Thinkubator), Adrian Tanzl (PAYER Group), and Stephan Meier (Strateco).
It became clear that the circular economy requires collaboration across the entire value chain, is already being practiced by many companies, and can make a significant contribution to increasing resilience, resource efficiency, and competitiveness.
The ICS is therefore now offering a free workshop series to help Styrian companies identify the potential of the circular economy, develop sustainable strategies, and strengthen their international competitiveness in the long term.
