Offices of Science and Technology Austria, China & USA
Offices of Science and Technology Austria, China & USA
The Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) runs Offices of Science and Technology Austria (OSTAs) at the Austrian embassies in the USA and in China in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW), the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and the Federal Ministry of Europe and International Affairs (BMEIA). OSTA Washington, D.C., is responsible for North America (including Mexico) and OSTA Beijing, for China and Mongolia.
The goal of both OSTAs is to strengthen bilateral relations with these key research countries in the realms of science, research and innovation.
Here are the tasks the offices perform in close consultation with other Austrian representatives:
- Provide on-site support for universities and research institutions in building up and expanding bilateral relations and strategic internationalisation measures
- Compile information on current trends in the country where they are located
- Forge networks and cultivate alumni relations for Austrian researchers in the country
- Public relations: Promote Austria as a location for research
- Cooperate with representations of other EU Member States and EU representations in the country.
Additional activities specific to OSTA Washington:
- Operate the Research and Innovation Network Austria (RINA): currently more than 2,700 members are available to network with and support Austrian researchers
- Austrian Research and Innovation Talk (ARIT): Stage the annual OSTA conference for networking and information to benefit Austrian scientists in North America and in Austria
- Cooperate with Austrian Scientists and Scholars in North America (ASciNA), a private network of Austrian researchers. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) bestows ASciNA Awards every year in cooperation with the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) to honour outstanding publications by Austrian researchers in the United States and emphasise the importance of international mobility for excellent researchers.
Additional activities specific to OSTA Beijing:
- Expand the alumni database in collaboration with the Cooperation Office of the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) at Fudan University in Shanghai
- Put out a newsletter on current trends and cooperation opportunities in China