The demographic development and the impending shortage of skilled workers will affect all economic sectors, including research and development. Around 15,000 people are currently employed in this area in Upper Austria. Eleven percent of employees do research in universities and in public authorities, 89 percent are active in the company sector. According to the surveys, around 1700 natural scientists, mathematicians, engineers and information technicians will be missing by 2030.
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The personnel search is therefore also in full swing in this area: internationally, fishing for talents in particular. So that they also take root in Upper Austria, there are numerous projects from the “Upper Austrian Innovation Network” (UAR) research network. The state of Upper Austria supports the initiative with half a million euros.
The research network is part of the Upper Austrian Research GmbH founded 25 years ago, it is a society of the state of Upper Austria. A total of 16 research institutions are included, ten of them are participation companies. In the previous year, around 1,100 employees (40 percent of which with an international background) processed around 1,100 projects with an operating output of 147 million euros.
Projects excellent
The research institutions strive intensively to find new employees and keep existing ones. Three such projects were awarded a jury and awarded 10,000 euros in prize money, which is intended to serve as start -up capital for further measures.
Among the award winners is the Linz Competence Center Holz – Wood K with its initiative “Wood4all”. Here special emphasis is placed on the promotion of women. The funding enables dissertant Elisabeth Billich to a research stay in Toronto, Canada. The natural scientist researches bio -based resins, which are used as an adhesive in furniture production. So far, they are supposed to replace fossil raw materials.
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Image: Land Upper Austria/Spenlingwimmer
Source: Nachrichten
