artloop

With the launch of artloop, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is taking the next step toward embedding the arts even more deeply in the institute’s culture, following several years of artistic engagement through the ARTTEC Artist-in-Residence program at AIT. artloop now replaces ARTTEC and strengthens the dialogue between art and research, paving the way for new solutions for industry and society. artloop is being further developed at AIT by Klaus Speidel, curator and art theorist, in close coordination with the management and AIT Communication under the leadership of Michael Hlava.

Our vision on the wall: “AIT: Shaping Tomorrow’s World”

Vision on the wall

Goals

Human in the Loop

artloop represents an artistic loop that enables research projects to be viewed from new, often unexpected perspectives. Art does not serve merely to illustrate science, but acts as an equal partner in the innovation process. This gives rise to new developments that would not be possible through art or science alone. By integrating art and artistic methods into key areas of AIT, the artloop program helps shape the organization’s innovative corporate culture.

Klaus Speidel

Head of AIT artloop

+43 50550-4527
klaus.speidel(at)ait.ac.at

Key objectives of artloop

Fostering Corporate Culture: Through artistic and creative initiatives, artloop promotes “Art Thinking.” Through training sessions, workshops, and visits to studios and exhibitions, artistic methods are made accessible to all employees to stimulate innovative approaches in research. artloop also serves as the central platform for projects at AIT that utilize artistic and art-related methods.
Science Communication & Civic Science: By imparting narrative and aesthetic methods, artloop helps employees convey complex topics such as artificial intelligence, decarbonization, resilient infrastructure, or digital transformation in a way that is understandable and emotionally resonant in terms of their significance for industry and society. The dialogue this enables incorporates social values and ethical questions with particular clarity.
Strategic Innovation: Approaches from artistic research are gaining importance in technological processes and are becoming part of newer research initiatives and calls for proposals. artloop brings these competencies together and strengthens AIT’s position as a key player at the intersection of technology, creativity, and society.
Places in Motion: To make AIT’s innovative spirit visible and tangible, artistic expressions are becoming an integral part of the spaces and publications at AIT. In April 2026, Chiara de Eccher became the first artist to create a representation of AIT. Titled “AIT: Shaping tomorrow’s world,” it is on display as a large wall drawing in the foyer at Giefinggasse 4 and depicts the impact of AIT on industry and society today and tomorrow, as well as AIT’s values. This work is based on large-scale participatory processes conducted over the past few years. Another new development is the curatorial selection of an artistic contribution for the AIT Impact Report, which highlights key AIT projects and achievements each year. In 2026, Nikolaus Gansterer is featured here with his series “Objects Yet to Become.”

Human in the Loop: People at the Center

In line with a humanistic understanding of technology, people remain the central focus of our innovation processes. Drawing on the perspective of the arts, artloop also explores the impact of technological developments on social structures and the environment.

About AIT

The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is Austria's largest research and technology organisation with more than 1,600 employees working on the key infrastructure issues of the future.

AIT focuses on the two interlinked research priorities of "sustainable and resilient infrastructures", particularly in the areas of energy, transport and health, and the "digital transformation of industry and society", working closely with industry and clients from public institutions. Research & development is the central driver of innovation for industry, the economy and society, secures jobs and prosperity and thus strengthens Austria as a business location.

Press Management artloop

AI-enabled industrial systems

Strengthening industrial performance and innovation capacity is a key objective of the Industry Strategy 2035. Artificial intelligence, control engineering and data-driven models are crucial levers for productivity, energy efficiency and quality assurance.

AIT combines AI with a deep understanding of processes to make industrial systems more robust, precise and efficient. The focus is on explainable, reproducible solutions that can be integrated into existing production environments. In this way, AIT supports industrial companies in scaling up innovations and securing their international competitiveness.

Precise process control for the highest steel quality Anode-Analyzer DATA BRATA identifies quality issues at an early stage Titanium forming at moderate temperatures

Sustainable and resilient industrial and energy systems

The transformation of industrial and energy systems towards lower emissions, higher efficiency and security of supply is a key priority of Austrian industrial policy.

AIT facilitates the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries through integrated technological solutions and strategic transformation pathways. This reduces emissions, lowers investment risks and strengthens the competitiveness of the industrial location.

AHEAD CO₂-neutrale Ziegelproduktion Klimaneutralitätsfahrplan Lienz

AIT Purpose, Vision, Mission

Clear guidelines for the future development of AIT have been formulated.

VISION: We make innovation a driving force in Europe.

PURPOSE: We turn research into innovation by bridging science and the economy to shape tomorrow's world.

VALUES:

Courage & Curiosity
Trust & Integrity
Commitment & Impact
Excellence & Foresight
Appreciation & Collaboration

Mission, Vision & Values

Smart, safe and automated mobility & machinery

Mobility and industrial machinery systems are central to industrial value creation. Their future viability depends on automation, safety and robustness – even under extreme conditions.

AIT develops and validates technologies that enable the safe deployment of intelligent vehicles and machines. System integration and test environments accelerate the transition from research to industrial application.

Smart hydraulic excavator Intelligent driver assistance systems Inflight De-icing

Biological and circular systems

The Industrial Strategy Austria 2035 emphasises the importance of the circular economy, the bioeconomy and resource efficiency as complementary approaches to technological innovation. Bio-based and circular systems help to reduce dependencies, close material cycles and increase the resilience of industrial value creation.

AIT develops bio-based and ecological solutions that operate at the interfaces between agriculture, industry and the environment. By integrating biological processes into existing value creation and supply systems, AIT supports the development of robust, resource-efficient and long-term sustainable infrastructures. However, the development of a sustainable and efficient circular economy is also a key focus of AIT’s work in many other research areas.

Microbiome solutions for climate-resilient crop production RecAL: Sustainable Aluminium Recycling

Resilient Infrastructure Monitoring & Crisis Preparedness

Economic resilience requires that critical infrastructure can be monitored, protected and secured at an early stage in the event of a crisis. Sensor technology, monitoring and secure communication systems form the backbone of this.

AIT develops integrated systems for situational awareness, early warning and secure communication – including quantum and photon technologies as the basis for future critical infrastructure. This sustainably strengthens the capacity of industry and the public sector to take action.

CBRN sensor systems for crisis management Satellite monitoring of structures Mobility Observation Box Highly secure quantum communication City Intelligence Lab

Society

Research Topics AIT Blog

AI Taskforce

The AIT has set itself the goal of becoming one of Europe's leading institutions in the application of modern AI methods. This applies to all areas, from the way research is conducted, how innovation projects are set up and implemented together with partners from industry, business and the public sector, to administration and technical support.

AI will bring about numerous disruptive changes in the research and innovation sector, which is why it is essential for AIT to transform itself into a company with full and consistent AI support in all areas in order to position itself at the forefront of applied research in Europe.

AI Taskforce AI Factory

Digital health systems and data-driven care

Digital health systems are most effective when they are integrated into existing care structures and deployed along clear care pathways.

AIT develops digital solutions that range from the collection and analysis of individual health data to providing systemic decision support. By linking sensor technology, data analysis and care processes, AIT helps to prevent, treat and provide aftercare for health conditions, while also contributing to the development of more resilient and scalable healthcare systems.

Encevis Survivorship Passport Lowering blood pressure without medication Telehealth-Platform

Industry

Digital transformation is fundamentally changing how industrial value is created, how public services are delivered and how social systems function. However, sustainable economic success can only be achieved where digital systems are secure, trustworthy and scalable.

The AIT views digital technologies not as isolated applications, but as systemic enablers of competitiveness, resilience and technological sovereignty – key objectives of the Austrian Industrial Strategy 2035. Across industry, public administration, healthcare and society, the AIT develops digital systems that facilitate the transition from pilot projects to widespread implementation. The focus is on measurable outcomes: increased productivity, risk reduction, efficiency gains and the strengthening of industrial and governmental capacity to act.

Solutions

Human-Centered Digital Transformation

To address current and future challenges, AIT develops solutions that are ecologically sustainable, economically effective, and socially relevant – from sustainable energy systems and resource-efficient industrial processes to AI-supported digitalization and automation solutions. These innovations strengthen competitiveness, promote productivity, address the skills shortage, increase the resilience of critical infrastructures, and ensure the quality of our healthcare system.

At the same time, we rely on a human-centered approach that fosters trust in digital technologies and ensures their benefits for both society and the economy. Our goal is clear: impact through science, technology, and innovation – with solutions that have a lasting impact and are systemically relevant.

Green Manikin BuildsaVR

Trustworthy digital systems & cyber resilience

Digital sovereignty and cyber resilience are key industrial policy priorities for Austria and Europe. Digital transformation can only succeed if risks are manageable and trust is systematically built up.

AIT develops security, identity and governance solutions that make digital systems controllable, resilient and compliant with regulations. This is not about isolated security solutions, but rather systemic approaches that secure critical infrastructure, industrial applications and public systems in the long term.

Cyber Security for Digital Systems Biometrics: Contactless fingerprint identification AIT Cyber Range Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration Optical Quantum Technologies

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Our vision on the wall: “AIT: Shaping Tomorrow’s World”

artloop Wall Drawing, Drawing by ThinkVisual / Chiara de Eccher, Photo: E.S.E.L

The artloop wall drawing in the foyer of the AIT location at Giefinggasse 4, 1210 Vienna, illustrates what AIT stands for: actively shaping a sustainable and innovative future. Created as part of the artloop initiative, the work combines artistic perspectives with key elements from AIT’s vision, self-image, strategy, and values.

As a multi-layered hidden-object picture, the drawing brings together various themes, projects, and visions, inviting viewers to discover new details time and again. It is the result of an intensive exchange with employees from various departments and reflects the diversity and expertise of AIT.

Thus, the wall drawing becomes more than a visual element: it is an expression of an open, dialogue-oriented corporate culture and creates a new approach to complex content—as daily inspiration for work and as a visible symbol of the connection between art, science, and innovation.

From ARTTEC to artloop: A Success Story

The program builds on successful exhibitions and residencies at the AIT. Artists such as Claudia Larcher (generative AI), Judith Fegerl (energy/materiality), and Process Studio (symbols for climate protection) have already demonstrated how art can expand the boundaries of human and technical perception. With its own program and a new director, the AIT is taking the next step.

What artloop offers

Interactive Exhibitions: In our lobby on Giefinggasse, research findings are brought to life through spatial installations, videos, and performances.

Transdisciplinary networks: We collaborate with international partners to connect AIT within a global art-science ecosystem.

Would you like to learn more about the current exhibition or become part of the network? Contact our artloop team.

Contact our artloop-Team