On 18–19 August 2026, ASMET brought around 40 experts from Austria’s Advanced Materials (AdMa) community together in Graz for the Werkstoff Workshop 2026. Building on the successful Alpbach workshops of previous years, the two-day event combined industry insights, expert discussions and networking. The workshop took place at JOANNEUM RESEARCH in Graz and focused on “AI in Materials Development and Production”. The workshop demonstrated the great potential of combining materials technology, digitalization and artificial intelligence.
The programme kicked off with a site visit to AVL Graz, followed by an informal get-together offering participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and build new connections.
The second day was moderated by ASMET’s colleagues (and partners in ATIMA) Gerhard Hackl and Yvonne Dworak featuring 16 expert presentations, interactive breakout sessions and discussions on the future of Advanced Materials in Austria. Participants were able to exchange ideas and experiences. The presentations covered a broad range of topics, including advanced materials, data-driven materials development, simulation and recycling, AI-supported process optimization and industrial quality assurance. The workshop also explored potential directions for governmental support and future national priorities. In the working groups, participants discussed the research needs, skills and framework conditions required to successfully transfer AI applications into industrial materials development and production.
Several representatives from ATIMA (BNN, AM-Austria) and other key stakeholders of the Austrian AdMa community contributed to the discussions, making the workshop a valuable platform for strengthening collaboration and shaping Austria’s Advanced Materials ecosystem.
We sincerely thank all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions and lively discussions, and JOANNEUM RESEARCH for its excellent hospitality.
Special thanks also go to our organizing partners ATIMA, JOANNEUM RESEARCH, Materials Center Leoben (MCL), ACstyria and BMIMI for their excellent cooperation and commitment.
