Political visit in the spirit of green innovation: Provincial Councillor Ehrenhöfer visits ZAT Leoben

v.l.: Remo Taferner (GF ZAT Leoben), Peter Moser (Rektor Montanuni), Willibald Ehrenhöfer (Landesrat für Wirtschaft, Arbeit, Finanzen, Wissenschaft und Forschung), Manuela Raith (Vizerektorin f. Finanzen Montanuni), Helmut Antrekowitsch (Vizerektor f. Forschung und Nachhaltigkeit)

02. Juni 2025 - Today, the new Styrian State Councillor Willibald Ehrenhöfer visited the Centre for Applied Technology (ZAT) in Leoben to find out more about the Green Startupmark cooperation project. The exchange centred on the future prospects of sustainable start-ups and the role of the Upper Styria region in the structural change towards a low-carbon economy.

Ehrenhöfer was welcomed by Rector Peter Moser of Montanuniversität Leoben, who presented the university's plans to increase support for green start-ups - including new collaborations, infrastructural offerings and targeted support for students on their path to self-employment.

Representatives of all project partners were on site: the SFG Green Startupmark, the Green Tech Valley Cluster, FH Joanneum with its Green KAIT, ZAT Leoben and successful examples from the latter such as Aeromeds, Cairos and ImproveM. These start-ups were supported as part of the ERDF co-financed Just Transition Fund (JTF) and impressively demonstrate how sustainable ideas can take root and grow in the region.

Today's visit underlines the importance of the Green Startupmark as a driving force for sustainable innovation in Styria - with strong partners, active cooperation and a clear goal: to promote green founders in the long term.