STUDY TRIP TO HELSINKI: SMART CITY MEETS SMART MINDS

Organised by the students themselves, the trip took them to the centre of Nordic innovation. The project was supported by Außenwirtschaft Austria - Advantage Austria Helsinki - which facilitated key programme items with its expertise and network.

TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN TOUCH

The focus was on visits to leading companies and institutions in the fields of digitalisation, Smart City and Industry 4.0:

• Planmeca: Global market leader for dental medical technology with strong research & development - develops and manufactures state-of-the-art digital treatment centres, imaging systems and CAD/CAM solutions for international use in dental technology in Helsinki.
• Wärtsilä: Helsinki-based global market leader for smart technologies and lifecycle solutions in maritime and energy applications he company develops sustainable hybrid propulsion systems, energy storage solutions and digital ecosystems to decarbonise the shipping and energy sectors.
• Deep Scan Tech: Finnish cleantech start-up specialising in non-invasive 3D scanning technologies for examining buildings, materials and subsoils - the results can be integrated directly into CAD and BIM models and thus support planning and renovation processes.
• Maria 01: Start-up campus in the centre of Helsinki that connects technology-oriented start-ups with investors, universities and innovation programmes - operated in a former hospital area and now a central platform for the Finnish start-up scene.
• Helsinki XR Centre: Europe's leading innovation centre for extended reality (XR) on the campus of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences - offers space for research, start-ups and collaborations in the field of virtual, augmented and mixed reality.

A special item on the program was a visit to the Austrian Embassy in Helsinki, where the group discussed current developments in Austrian-Finnish economic relations with Ambassador Dr Herbert Pichler.

LEARNING BEYOND NATIONAL BORDERS

In addition to the professional impulses, the trip was also culturally varied: A day trip to Tallinn not only offered insights into the Estonian capital, but also the opportunity for sporting activity - around ten kilometres of running through Tallinn, an offer that was gladly accepted by several participants. Finally, a workshop with strategy consultant and author Miikka Leinonen provided valuable input on the topic of future visions and user-centred innovation methods. "A varied trip to Finland with many highlights on the subject of digital technologies. And on top of that, the Nordic lifestyle - an all-round successful study trip," says Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Schmiedinger, PhD about the trip to the European north.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETS PRACTICAL RELEVANCE

The study trip showed impressively how much potential there is in student-led initiatives - from planning and content design to independent organisation on site. The participants were able to expand their knowledge, make international contacts and experience the transfer of theory into practice in a variety of ways.

Links:

• Smart Products & AI-Driven Development | pt