Open Austria East Coast
Photo: © NewView.Media LLC/David Lam
Austria Expands OPEN AUSTRIA Initiative to U.S. East Coast, Strengthening Innovation Ties
The official launch of OPEN AUSTRIA East Coast took place at the 800th ReFocus Austria event on February 24, 2025 at the Cambridge Innovation Center. This expansion of the OPEN AUSTRIA initiative, founded in San Francisco in 2016, towards Boston and Washington, D.C. aims to connect Austrian businesses to the world’s foremost innovation ecosystems, including prestigious universities such as MIT and Harvard, as well as key political and regulatory networks.
“We are facing global economic challenges that directly challenge our position.” said Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Austria. “By expanding the Open Austria initiative to the East Coast of the U.S., we are contributing to maintaining our international competitiveness. Only those at the forefront of the latest innovations and trends can hold their own against stiff competition. As the Foreign Ministry, we are opening the doors for Austrian companies to the leading science clusters in the U.S., where many groundbreaking new technologies have their origins.”
Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, added “Innovation is the key to greater competitiveness. Expanding the OPEN AUSTRIA initiative to the East Coast of the U.S. is an important step in connecting Austrian companies even more closely with global innovation ecosystems. Through the cooperation between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, we have created a strong foundation of expertise in Boston that gives Austrian companies targeted access to innovation drivers. The new OPEN AUSTRIA East Coast office will further deepen this knowledge transfer and open up new opportunities for Austrian companies at the international level.”
Boston, a world-renowned hub for innovation and life sciences, and Washington, D.C., with its key political and regulatory decision-making processes, are vital locations for Austrian companies seeking to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving global economy. With OPEN AUSTRIA East Coast, Austria aims to foster innovation partnerships, open new market opportunities and facilitate the entry into one of the most dynamic markets in the world for Austrian companies.
Dr. Christian Mandl, CEO of TIBA Biotech, emphasized, “OPEN AUSTRIA will play a crucial role in helping Austrian companies and researchers gain access to knowledge, cooperation and resources.”
OPEN AUSTRIA East Coast is set further to enhance Austria's presence in the U.S. and increase its visibility as a leader in innovation.