The questions at the heart of the panel discussion were: What is innovation, how does it arise, and what impact can it have? The event took place at the Ateliertheater Wien in collaboration with the Postgraduate Centre at the University of Vienna and was moderated by Lena Yadlapalli (Head of APA Science). Elisabeth Unterfrauner (Centre for Social Innovation), Eugenia Stamboliev (University of Vienna) and Georg Russegger (LBG Open Innovation in Science Centre) made it clear that innovation is not merely a new idea or invention. Only when innovations are actually applied, socially accepted and take effect can we speak of innovation – regardless of whether they involve technical or social changes.

The experts emphasised that existing power structures and infrastructures can hinder far-reaching change, and that an overly narrow understanding of innovation is counterproductive. Sustainable innovation therefore requires participation, empowerment and a clear focus on societal benefit rather than short-term market interests.