China-Europe Scientists Forum: digital intelligence and sustainable materials forum held in Vienna
The International Forum on Digital Intelligence Integration and Sustainable Materials Development took place at the SkyDome Seminar and Conference Centre in Vienna on 28 October 2026 as a parallel forum of the China-Europe Scientists Forum.
The Professional Association of Chinese Scientists and Technologists in Austria (PASCO) organised the event with Hunan University of Science and Technology, the International Center for Education and Innovation (ICEI), the Ministry of Education's international joint laboratory for new refractory technologies in the steel industry, and the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Refractories at Wuhan University of Science and Technology as co-organisers.
Representatives of universities, research institutes and businesses from China, Austria and other European countries came together in Vienna. Twenty-two experts from institutions including Materials Center Leoben, Montanuniversität Leoben, Graz University of Technology, the Medical University of Vienna, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, and Harbin Institute of Technology shared research on artificial intelligence and advanced materials, materials processing, low-carbon cement, the reuse of industrial by-products, green manufacturing, resource recovery and industrial innovation. Nearly 100 researchers and business representatives from China and Austria attended.
Held in the year marking 55 years of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, the forum brought researchers and industry representatives together to discuss practical cooperation. It explored how digital intelligence can support materials innovation and sustainability, and how research findings can be matched with industrial needs and international partners in China, Austria and elsewhere in Europe.
Guoqing Dai, Science and Technology Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Austria, delivered an opening address.
Connecting research and industry
In his opening remarks, PASCO President Prof. Shengli Jin said that the future of innovation depended on both technological progress and the ability of partners to work effectively together.
He encouraged participants to build relationships across countries and between science and industry, linking research with practical applications and finding opportunities in the challenges they face. He hoped the discussions would generate ideas, strengthen partnerships and lead to concrete projects involving Austria, China and other European partners.
Digital intelligence in materials research
The presentations examined how artificial intelligence can support materials research, how digital methods can improve manufacturing processes, and how new materials can be tested for performance and reliability.
Dr Hans-Peter Gänser of Materials Center Leoben discussed applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in advanced materials. Prof. Christof Sommitsch of Graz University of Technology presented modelling and machine-learning methods for materials processing and process optimisation.
Prof. Wei Chen, Chief Professor at Wuhan University of Technology, spoke about the development and use of low-carbon cement in China. Prof. Priyadharshini Perumal of Montanuniversität Leoben presented research on the reuse of industrial and mining by-products, alternative binders and sustainable construction materials.
The talks covered materials property prediction, process optimisation, low-carbon construction materials and the reuse of industrial waste, showing where digital methods can contribute to more sustainable materials development.
From research to industrial applications
Further presentations addressed functional ceramics, materials processing, metallurgical process simulation, battery recycling, industrial actuation, materials testing and reliability assessment.
Prof. Arish Dasan examined the opportunities and challenges of turning waste resources into functional ceramics through binder jetting. Prof. Yajie Dai presented new sheet-based ceramic filters for melt purification, while Dr Peng Lin discussed recurrence computational fluid dynamics simulations for species transport and particle tracking in a tundish.
Dr Lukas Wiszniewski, CEO and co-founder of RePyro, presented closed-loop battery recycling technology. Prof. Tuopu Na spoke about actuation technologies for industrial environments, including non-contact solutions.
Prof. Wolfgang Drexler of the Medical University of Vienna presented innovations in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and photonics for medical imaging. Peter Ruchti, Managing Director at ZwickRoell, discussed materials testing under extreme conditions. Thomas Walter, co-founder and CEO of ReLab Research, introduced accelerated mechanical fatigue testing of electronic components and physics-of-failure methods. Erik Weckowski of Thermiq GmbH presented developments in building surface protection, solar reflection and energy saving.
Together, the presentations followed the path from materials development and manufacturing to performance testing and reliability assessment, connecting scientific research with engineering validation and industrial use.
Wider opportunities for China-Europe cooperation
The programme also addressed cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, international education and technology transfer.
Dr Cornelius Granig, founder of YANUS and cybersecurity partner at Grant Thornton Austria, discussed cybersecurity, AI and trust in international academic cooperation. Dr Caichun Gong, Secretary-General of the China-Europe Scientists Forum Organising Committee, shared experience and perspectives on metaverse innovation, natural language processing and China-Europe technology cooperation.
ICEI Vice-President Martin Soeroes and Diana Fedorenko presented the centre's work in international education, collaborative research and technology transfer.
Founded in Vienna in June 2026, ICEI connects universities, research institutes and businesses. Its summer school with Wuhan University of Science and Technology combined company visits, university exchanges and cultural learning, offering a practical example of cooperation in education and the development of young researchers between China and Austria.
Informal discussions and evening networking gave participants time to learn about one another's research, technical expertise and cooperation needs, and to explore future academic exchanges, joint research and industry partnerships.
Thanks to the organisers, sponsors and volunteers
Co-organisers, supporting institutions, companies, media partners, the event team and volunteers all contributed to the forum.
PASCO thanks Hunan University of Science and Technology for co-organising and sponsoring the event, ZwickRoell for sponsoring the forum dinner, and Wuhan Shanda Chemical and DEW 3D Printing Technology (Taicang) Co., Ltd. for their support. Special thanks go to ICEI Secretary-General Jakub Gurba for his help with the preparations.
PASCO also thanks CCTV.com of China Media Group and the China-Europe Scientists Forum Organising Committee for their support; media partners ‘奥国那些事儿’ (Stories from Austria), SINOPRESS and YANUS for their coverage; and all speakers, participants, organisers and volunteers for taking part.
PASCO will continue to help research institutes, universities and companies in China, Austria and across Europe exchange ideas and develop joint work in technology, sustainable development and international talent development.
About PASCO
The Professional Association of Chinese Scientists and Technologists in Austria (PASCO) is a non-profit professional association founded in Vienna in 2011. It brings together Chinese professionals in Austria working in scientific research, engineering and industry.
The association organises professional exchanges, supports members in helping one another and promotes scientific and technological cooperation between China and Austria and across China and Europe.
Source: PASCO materials and reporting by China Media Group.