Graz, 03.05.2023 - After almost 2.5 years of construction, an important milestone in the success story of the Austrian top research center Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) was reached with the opening of the new "SAL Building". Numerous guests, among others Styrian Minister of Economy and Research Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Director General for Innovation and Technology Henriette Spyra (BMK), Chairman of the Supervisory Board Ingolf Schädler (SAL) and Rector Harald Kainz (TU Graz), attended the opening. During a panel discussion, a distinguished panel discussed the diverse challenges between cutting-edge research and industrial application.

"Silicon Austria Labs is the heart of microelectronics research in Austria. The domestic top research center is characterized in particular by its cross-state cooperation, its internationality and its close cooperation with industry. With the opening of the new headquarters, the researchers at the Graz site now find optimal working conditions," said Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Minister of Economics and Research.

Research focus on green technologies

The new laboratory infrastructure, which could be visited during the opening ceremony, offers employees an optimal research environment. In the future, comprehensive tests in the field of power electronics and trustworthy electronic based systems (Dependable EBS) can be carried out in the laboratories. The focus will be on green technologies such as efficient data generation through Green AI.

"Our overall goal is to strengthen Austria as a research location. SAL demonstrates how cooperation between science and industry drives innovation and ensures sustainable value creation. The new SAL Building literally creates more space for top domestic research," emphasizes Henriette Spyra, Director General for Innovation and Technology at the Ministry of Climate Action.

New Validation Lab also enables testing for partners

In the newly created Validation Lab, sensors can be tested for environmental aspects such as temperature, mechanical shaking or humidity. In addition to its own research, SAL will in future also offer its partners from industry the opportunity to carry out their tests (e.g. reliability, service life or stress) on electronic components there.

"With the new SAL building, our excellent team gets a new headquarters that also offers space for growth. Our goal is to employ 250 people here in Graz and 600 across Austria by 2030. The new building is an important milestone for our further success story," says SAL CFO Christof Wochesländer.

ABOUT SILICON AUSTRIA LABS (SAL)

Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (SAL) was founded in 2018 as part of the European Forum Alpbach as a cross-state, non-university center of excellence in the field of electronics-based systems. At its locations in Graz, Villach and Linz, research is conducted on key technologies in the fields of Microsystems, Sensor Systems, Power Electronics, Intelligent Wireless Systems and Embedded Systems. SAL brings together key players from industry and science and thus valuable expertise and know-how, and conducts cooperative, application-oriented research along the value chain. The aim is to accelerate the value creation process from idea to innovation - with excellent research and economic benefits. Owners are the Republic (50.1%), the Provinces of Styria and Carinthia (10% each), the Province of Upper Austria (4.95%) and the Professional Association for the Electrical and Electronics Industry (24.95%).

CONTACT:

Silicon Austria Labs GmbH
Isabella Preuer, BA BA MA
Head of Communications & PR  
+43 664 832 97 73

press@silicon-austria.com
www.silicon-austria-labs.com/presse