Zukunftstag 2026: LET’S TRANSFORM!
Inspiring keynote speeches. Interactive sessions. A dynamic hub for innovation and collaboration.
On November 18, 2026, the SFG, together with JOANNEUM RESEARCH, invites you once again to Zukunftstag.
The empowering message “LET’S TRANSFORM!” serves as an invitation to shape the future together and represents the connection between the power of change and active action. In a time of profound social, technological, and economic transformation, the ability to transform is becoming a key factor for success—both for organizations and for entire regions.
“LET’S TRANSFORM!” combines the idea of visionary thinking with practical implementation. It’s about developing new perspectives, designing innovative solutions, and taking concrete steps that enable sustainable change. “LET’S” symbolizes openness to collaboration and a willingness to tackle change together. “TRANSFORM!” stands for active implementation—translating ideas into concrete strategies and measures that have an impact at the local level while remaining globally compatible.
The event provides impetus, inspires discussion about transformation processes, and highlights ways to shape change sustainably—for businesses, research institutions, and societal stakeholders alike.
Keynotes
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Keynote by Mario Herger
Innovation with confidence: How Europe can once again help shape the future by drawing on its strengths
Mario Herger has been living and working in Silicon Valley for 25 years and has firsthand experience with the speed at which new technologies are developed, tested, scaled, and brought to market. In his keynote address, he will focus on technological developments and trends that will fundamentally transform the economy and society in the coming years.
From his perspective, he examines what works differently in Silicon Valley, where Europe stands today in the global technology race, and what is succeeding here—but also what is holding back innovation and scaling. What framework conditions are needed to successfully implement new technologies and bring them to market? What can Europe learn from the U.S. and combine with its own strengths? What role does China play, and in which fields does Europe have opportunities for the future? In doing so, Mario Herger also turns his attention to the next generation and the question of what role education, entrepreneurial spirit, and young people play in actively shaping Europe’s technological future.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Keynote by Wolfgang Illek
Transformation begins where the unimaginable becomes reality
Since a cycling accident in 2004, Wolfgang Illek has been paraplegic from the collarbone down. What initially seemed like the end of an independent life became the starting point for a new mission: to create hope. For millions of people with spinal cord injuries worldwide.
His keynote makes it clear that transformation has many faces: It begins with people who find new perspectives and new strength after a severe setback. It is evident in the research that turns the seemingly impossible into a real hope for a cure. And it becomes tangible when people around the world come together to champion a vision, thereby enabling real change.
As head of the fundraising department at the Wings for Life Foundation, Wolfgang Illek combines personal experience with a clear vision. He offers compelling insights into what paraplegia truly means, the challenges those affected face every day, and why research into a cure is so crucial.
Your contacts:
Projektmanager Standortentwicklung & Standortmanagement
+43 316 7093 306
Projektmanagerin Standortentwicklung & Standortmanagement
+43 316 7093 336