In 2022, the University for Continuing Education Krems successfully pursued its course of internationalizing its research. It was possible to take advantage of the European research framework program Horizon Europe, to launch a third PhD program, and to expand measures to promote early-stage researchers.
Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems is strategically focused on transdisciplinarity and the translation of knowledge into applications. "Our research is geared towards delivering contributions to address societal challenges. In doing so, we are convinced that research and innovation are driving forces to transform our society towards a sustainable future," says Prof Viktoria Weber, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainable Development.
A strong international orientation
As the Research Report 22/23 shows, the University for Continuing Education Krems was able to successfully continue on its chosen path of increasingly deepening the international, above all European, integration of its research activities. This is evidenced by its successful participation in the Horizon Europe research program, among other things as a consortium leader, as well as other EU-funded projects, which amounted to a total of 37. Furthermore the University expanded its share of projects in the area of basic research and is currently conducting seven FWF-funded research projects as well as other basic research-oriented projects within the framework of other funding programs.
Introduction of a third PhD program and support for early stage researchers
In launching the third PhD program "Technology, Innovation, and Cohesive Societies", accredited by AQ-Austria, and by intensifying measures for early stage researchers, the University for Continuing Education Krems has further expanded its support for researchers at the beginning of their careers. Corresponding FWF programs such as ESPRIT were successfully used.
The five main research areas "Digital Transformation, Health and Innovation in Cohesive and Sustainable European Societies", "Evidence-based Health Research", "Cultural Heritage", "Preventive and Regenerative Medicine" and "Continuing Education Research" give the research at University Krems a clear profile. For overarching special research topics, the University has additionally established Research Labs at the faculty level.
Research in figures
Since 2017, the acquired third-party funds could be nearly doubled, these amounted to 10.01 million euros for the year 2022, the research expenditure amounted to 16.16 million euros. During the same year, a total of 210 externally funded research projects were carried out by 370 researchers and 527 scientific publications published.
For the coming years, the University for Continuing Education Krems seeks to strengthen its international and European research networks, to enhance its PhD programs, and to further support early-stage researchers. According to the Vice Rector for Research and Sustainable Development, technology transfer is also to be stepped up.
The Research Report 2022/23 of the University for Continuing Education Krems is available on the website.
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