Helmut Leopold, Chairman of the Gaia-X Hub Austria and Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, was elected to the new Board of Directors for the 2025-2027 term of office by the Gaia-X European Association for Data and Cloud (AISBL) at the second Ordinary General Assembly 2025. This brings Austria and the AIT onto the important steering board alongside renowned organisations such as Airbus, Atos, Siemens, Dawex, OVHCloud, SAP, Bitkom and others to actively advance the mission of Gaia-X in the future.
As Chairman of the Austrian hub, Helmut Leopold represents the bridge to the European Gaia-X organisation. In his role at AIT, he heads the Center for Digital Safety & Security with over 240 researchers and experts, focusing on digital transformation and key topics such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data platforms and data spaces, as well as quantum and photonics technologies. In this role, Leopold supports Austrian and international companies and organisations in the context of their digital transformation - in various markets, including the semiconductor industry, the automotive sector, critical infrastructures such as energy grid and power plant operators, the financial sector, as well as high-security areas in the context of critical infrastructure protection. Prior to this, he was already responsible for the digital transformation of Telekom Austria as the head of technology, where he played a key role in the introduction of broadband internet and interactive television in Austria, thereby also significantly shaping the development of the digital media landscape in Austria.
The Gaia X Hub Austria is an important initiative supporting the strategic goals of national digital sovereignty. The Gaia-X platform brings together stakeholders from business, research, and administration and helps companies ensure sustainable data sovereignty for new data-driven business models. The hub, which is supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and the State Secretariat for Digitalization, now part of the Austrian Federal Chancellery (BKA), and coordinated by AIT, sees itself not only as an information hub, but also as an active contributor to European digital policy. It advises political decision-makers, supports companies in developing sovereign data strategies, and creates concrete entry points for data spaces through real-world test environments and pilot projects.
“I am honoured and grateful for the trust placed in me. The election to the Board of Directors of Gaia-X AISBL is not only a personal recognition, but also a strong signal for the Austrian contribution to the European data strategy. Only interoperable federated data spaces that enable a sovereign data economy and counteract excessive dependence on a few global data providers create the basis for genuine innovation and long-term competitiveness in data-driven business models. At the same time, they form the foundation for sustainable digital sovereignty - not only for the European economy, but for our entire social framework,” says Helmut Leopold on the strategic relevance of Gaia-X for Europe's digital future.
The AIT congratulates all newly elected Board members, whose expertise will be crucial for the development of a federated, trustworthy digital Europe. The election of Helmut Leopold to the Board also signals the increased visibility and importance of Austria in the European Gaia-X network.
Further information:
- Gaia‑X Ordinary General Assembly, Juni 2025: https://gaia-x.eu/gaia-x-ordinary-general-assembly-june-2025/
- Gaia-X Hub Austria: https://www.gaia-x.at/
- AIT Center for Digital Safety & Security: https://www.ait.ac.at/dss