{"id":4785,"date":"2025-06-03T17:29:19","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T15:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edtechaustria.at\/?p=4785"},"modified":"2025-06-03T17:34:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T15:34:02","slug":"edtech-austria-summit-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edtechaustria.at\/en\/edtech-austria-summit-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Real-World Practice Meets Innovation: The Fourth EdTech Austria Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Under the theme \u201cReal-World Practice,\u201d the fourth EdTech Austria Summit brought together EdTech innovators, dedicated educators, representatives from politics and business, and curious guests for a day of exchange, inspiration, and shared learning at the Salzburg Congress.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The program? A diverse mix featuring Tech Tasting in the exhibition area, the EdTech Austria Fellowship Showcasing Area, three panel discussions, two keynotes, 6×5-minute learning sessions, numerous project presentations and workshops, an open discussion format, and the awarding of quality seals to 42 learning apps.<\/p>\n

For the first time, MINT Salzburg<\/a> joined the Summit\u2014this STEM initiative enriched the program with two talks, a fuck-up workshop, and a good-practice session.<\/p>\n

A Day Full of Future Moments<\/h3>\n

This year\u2019s Summit stood out in many ways. It showcased the diversity and potential of Austria\u2019s rapidly growing EdTech ecosystem\u2014something reflected in our network\u2019s development: what started with 40 members has now grown to 168 EdTechs. It was also a milestone event, marking the conclusion of Austria\u2019s first nationwide EdTech Fellowship\u2014an emotional highlight for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Innovation Salzburg\/Benedikt Schemmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The importance of digital skills in today\u2019s world was a shared belief among the guests of the opening panel. Daniela Gutschi (Salzburg Provincial Government), Martin Bauer (Austrian Federal Ministry of Education), Manfred Rosenstatter (Salzburg Chamber of Commerce), Melina Schneider (Austrian Economic Chamber), and Jakob Calice (OeAD) discussed the future of education and technology with moderator Ike Richson.<\/p>\n

The key message: education must be accessible to all<\/strong>. It\u2019s about enabling self-directed learning, fostering digital skills across all age groups, and creating awareness of data sovereignty. When it comes to artificial intelligence, Austria is still playing catch-up\u2014but the country shines in robotics, with strengths in development, construction, and application.<\/p>\n

With the motivating words \u201cNever stop learning!\u201d the Summit was officially opened\u2014and indeed, there was much to learn for the many guests in attendance.<\/p>\n

Leadership in the Age of AI<\/h3>\n

Zamina Ahmad, expert in AI and machine learning and CEO of shades\\&contrast, opened her keynote with an exercise to get the audience thinking: What happens when AI encounters blind spots, and why is diversity of perspective so crucial in teams? The fact that only 22 percent of AI professionals are women\u2014and that AI systems tend to favor male names in job application processes\u2014clearly shows how even \u201cneutral\u201d datasets can discriminate when common sense is lacking.<\/p>\n

Her solution: AI-augmented leadership\u2014humans and AI working together as a dream team, guided by awareness, empathy, and wisdom<\/strong>. In this way, AI becomes more than just a tool for boosting productivity or automating tasks; it becomes a valuable partner in everyday work life. This human-AI symbiosis enables better and often fairer decisions than either could achieve alone.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Innovation Salzburg\/Benedikt Schemmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of Zamina Ahmad\u2019s key messages: always question AI-generated content. Don\u2019t just accept it\u2014challenge it. That\u2019s the only way to ensure AI remains ethical and minimizes hallucinations, i.e., generating false information.<\/p>\n

EdTech goes global \u2013 with Curiosity and Courage to Embrace the Gaps<\/h3>\n

The panel \u201cThink Global \u2013 EdTech Pioneers Share Their Stories\u201d shed light on the wide range of challenges and opportunities in digital education on a global scale. Tanja Wassermair (GeoGebra GmbH) emphasized the role of community in developing the platform, which is available in over 70 languages. International exchange, she noted, helps deepen the understanding of different approaches to mathematics. Andreas H\u00f6rfurter (common sense eLearning) highlighted the importance of taking local conditions seriously\u2014such as lacking infrastructure\u2014and working together with local experts to find solutions. Lilia Gerber (Moonshot Pirates) shared powerful experiences from Tanzania, where school is seen as a great privilege\u2014in contrast to the often lower appreciation for education in Austria. Mathias Kutschera (Robo Wunderkind) added that there\u2019s no universal formula for going global, but openness and curiosity\u2014like in the USA, Robo Wunderkind\u2019s main market\u2014can open many doors.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Innovation Salzburg\/Benedikt Schemmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Healthy Learning, Digital Living \u2013 How Educational Technologies Can Empower Us<\/h3>\n

Digital skills today are more than just a nice-to-have \u2013 they\u2019ve become a matter of wellbeing. Anyone using digital tools daily \u2013 from AI assistants like ChatGPT to social media \u2013 faces new challenges in learning how to engage with them in a healthy, balanced way.<\/p>\n

The panel \u201cDigital Humans \u2013 Health Needs Digital Skills\u201d focused on how we can use digital tools to live healthier, learn better, and feel more empowered.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Innovation Salzburg\/Benedikt Schemmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Julia Holzer (University of Vienna) emphasized that learning only succeeds when certain key conditions are met: a sense of achievement, social connection, and autonomy. Using ChatGPT to do your homework, she noted, can be counterproductive if it replaces a sense of self-efficacy and motivation. Rather than offering ready-made concepts, education should foster creativity, collaboration, and a healthy dose of \u201cwe can do this\u201d spirit\u2014especially when it comes to handling social media and emotional challenges.\u00a0Evelyne Kern (\u00f6bv and l\u00f6rn) summed it up succinctly: learning works best when someone believes in you. Teachers should create space for discovery, encourage learning, and reflect on their own school days: What would I have needed back then? Her appeal: see mistakes not as setbacks, but as opportunities<\/strong>.\u00a0Sven Maikranz (Upstrive) highlighted how important a sense of belonging is, particularly for young people. Digital tools can act as bridges, making it easier to reach and support them. His message: focus more on building skills and nurturing mental health.<\/p>\n

6\u00d75-Minute Learnings \u2013 Insights from the EdTech Frontlines<\/h3>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your biggest learning?\u201d \u2013 That was the question we asked six EdTech innovators, who took to the stage to share practical insights from their own journeys.<\/p>\n

Joining the conversation: Thomas Layer-Wagner (Polycular), Evelyne Kern (\u00f6bv and l\u00f6rn), Stefanie Susser (Hacker School Austria), Michael Maurer (eSquirrel), Asmita Banerjee (lablife), and Bernd Simon (Knowledge Markets). Their key takeaways from the past years can be summed up like this:<\/p>\n