Research profile

The researchers at the University of Klagenfurt are deeply involved in cultural and educational sciences, social sciences, technical sciences, economics and law, in line with the relevant faculty structure. Both basic and applied research is conducted across all fields. One of the key advantages of the dynamic and young University of Klagenfurt is the close proximity offered by a campus university between its buildings, organisational units and, above all, people who share research interests. With its distinct research profile structure, the university promotes encounters and cooperation between researchers in their respective scientific communities and beyond in the form of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research activities that address the complex demands of today’s societal challenges. Particular focus is placed on providing ample development opportunities for early career researchers, who have access to a comprehensive support and networking infrastructure at multiple levels.

The areas of research strength are each driven by several departments at the University of Klagenfurt. Here, multiple research groups collaborate on relevant topics that generate high international visibility and are firmly integrated into structures designed to nurture early career researchers, such as the doctoral programmes and the Karl Popper Kolleg at the University of Klagenfurt. At present, the areas of research strength are:

• Digital Health
• Multiple Perspectives in Optimization
• Networked and Autonomous Systems

Additionally, several research groups also form networked research clusters that advance interdisciplinary research projects. At present, the research clusters are:

• Energy Management & Technology
• Sustainability
• Self-organising Systems
• Visual Culture

The research clusters are bottom-up initiatives and can be put forward in the context of regular university-wide calls for proposals. Areas of research strength and research clusters are evaluated at regular intervals and can be extended upon completion of a positive evaluation.

Much of this work is based on the fact that digitalisation (Humans in the Digital Age) now permeates vast areas of human life and is thus a vital principle for making sense of problems and generating new solutions. In many of these research activities, digitalisation is not viewed solely from a purely technical perspective, but is embedded fully in the research work along with its many dimensions. In this context, humans are considered as a force for disruptive transformation, with a focus on how digitalisation can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.