f.l.t.r.: Anton Plimon (Managing Director AIT), Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner, Helmut Leopold (Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security, AIT)
On May 20, 2021, Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner and Anton Plimon, Managing Director of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, signed a cooperation agreement between the Federal Ministry of Defense and the AIT. A research cooperation has already existed since 2010 and is now extended for the second time for another five years. The Austrian Armed Forces work closely with the scientific community in the Austrian research community. The aim is to regularly exchange information on future technological developments, develop new projects and thereby expand the department's knowledge base. For the Austrian Armed Forces, this cooperation is particularly significant in the areas of cyber defense, digitalization, ABC defense and autonomous systems.
"The use of the latest technologies is becoming increasingly important. In order to be able to evaluate and assess these, cooperation between competent research partners is needed. Especially in a time when cyber attacks are increasing and the protection of critical infrastructure and national security is of utmost importance, such a cooperation is indispensable for the Austrian Armed Forces," said Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner.
"The past years have shown that a trustful cooperation between AIT and the Austrian Armed Forces has been established. In this context, the Austrian Armed Forces play a special key role for security-related topics and have the corresponding infrastructure at their disposal. The domestic economy and industry also benefit from this cooperation," says Plimon. Plimon cites fake news detection systems and quantum technologies for eavesdropping security and data sovereignty, among other things, as current key topics of technology development within the framework of the cooperation.
Research in the field of ABC defense already has a long tradition. Innovative developments in the field of airborne and robotic visualization of ABC hazards led to a flagship project within the EU research programs in recent years. The KIRAS project defalsif-AI as a nation-wide initiative deals with the use of Artificial Intelligence for data analysis. This is intended to uncover fake news and disinformation. These in fact weaken political as well as state institutions of our democracy and thus ultimately public trust in political and state institutions. An equally modern solution for security is provided by tap-proof encryption using quantum technology.
In total, the cooperation with AIT has resulted in 42 joint projects in a wide range of technology areas.
In the media: (German)
Report on the cooperation topics on APA Science: Robo-Kamerad und Fake News - AIT und Bundesheer vertiefen Kooperation
Contact:
Michael W. Mürling
Marketing and Communications
Center for Digital Safety & Security
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
michael.muerling(at)ait.ac.at
(Image: Johannes Zinner)