Pact in research & development: STRABAG and TU Wien join forces for innovation and sustainability in construction

• STRABAG CEO Klemens Haselsteiner and TU Wien Rector Jens Schneider seal a comprehensive new cooperation agreement
• Joint interdisciplinary research projects on future topics in the construction industry planned

Industry and science join forces: STRABAG and the Vienna University of Technology (TU) have agreed on a comprehensive research alliance. Klemens Haselsteiner, CEO of STRABAG SE, and Jens Schneider, Rector of TU Wien, signed a new five-year cooperation agreement on Friday, 6 September 2024. It intensifies the long-standing collaboration between the leading technology group for construction services and the renowned Viennese university and now places this partnership on a broader interdisciplinary foundation.

Innovative strength meets scientific expertise
‘STRABAG has set itself the ambitious goal of achieving climate neutrality across the entire value chain by 2040. As a technology leader, we are working on this every day and at all levels. We are delighted that we have now gained one of Europe's leading institutions for application-oriented research as a partner for this endeavour in the form of TU Wien. Our cooperation combines the concentrated scientific expertise of the TUW institutes and the innovative strength of STRABAG - systematically and to our mutual benefit,’ said Klemens Haselsteiner.

‘Research and teaching at TU Wien are helping to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change today and in the future - and to achieve the sustainability goals in all dimensions: ecological, economic and social sustainability. We can only achieve this together in an innovation ecosystem of science and industry, taking into account the requirements of society. Competent partners are the prerequisite for guaranteeing joint progress and enabling innovations for the benefit of society,’ added Jens Schneider.

The signed cooperation agreement begins retroactively from 1 September 2024 and initially runs until 31 August 2029. It covers all eight faculties of TU Wien with a total of 51 institutes across all technical disciplines. The aim is to develop innovative solutions in joint interdisciplinary R&D projects that will serve the sustainable and digital construction of tomorrow. Findings from existing research activities of both partners are systematically combined and subsequently coordinated by central contact persons from STRABAG and TU Wien. The focal points of the R&D cooperation are determined through regular dialogue in joint committees. The centrepiece is also a regular tech dialogue between both partners in order to derive topics for joint projects with a view to future technological developments.

Networking for the targeted promotion of young talents
The second focus of the alliance is the systematic promotion of talent and young talent through close networking between STRABAG and TU Vienna. For example, STRABAG will regularly participate in university events such as TU.day, take part in support programmes for students, pass on suitable job offers to TUW stakeholders and award scholarships for selected bachelor's and master's theses at the TUW.

With more than 4,000 scientists in eight faculties and 26,000 students, the Vienna University of Technology is Austria's largest research and educational institution in the field of technology and natural sciences. The innovation engine TU Wien strengthens Austria as a centre of business and science and contributes to the prosperity of society.