AEMS and GBS 2026 successfully launched

This year's summer universities AEMS and GBS were kicked off with the event "Who builds the future?" on 15 July 2026 at Museumsquartier, with a festive and celebratory opening ceremony:

In their welcoming words, Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (BMFWF) and Sabine Kamill (BMWET) highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary programs and the crucial role they play in contributing to a sustainable future, followed by the opening speech of Günther Jedliczka (OeAD student housing), who introduced the company's philosophy of comfort and sustainability. Afterwards, Carina Kamptner (AEMS Summer University) and Barbara Mayr (GBS Summer University) addressed this year's 121 students of 49 nations of the summer programs and provided a warm welcome to their learning journey over the following three weeks.

Focusing on the key question, the event then brought together perspectives from climate research, economic justice and sustainable spatial design:

• In his key-note, Daniel Huppmann (IIASA) presented results of the Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change and its implications of the rapidly changing climate for the country, as well as for measures to undertake by policy makers.
  
  
• Marlene Engehorn (taxmenow) took over from there and addressed questions of gaping inequality between different classes of society in Austria, as well as on the global scale. She urged the audience of the pressing need to address power structures and re-distribute wealth.
  
  
• Doris Österreicher (Universität Stuttgart) provided insights into how to sustainably plan and design the spatial areas we live in, providing examples of innovative architectural approaches suited not only to new buildings, but also in accordance with the design of historical buildings.

The audience of about 250 excited visitors was welcome to bring in their own thoughts and questions during the panel discussion on transforming existing structures to create more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready societies with the key-note speakers. The discussion was moderated by Michael Bauer-Leeb and took place after a short break with a vegetarian buffet (provided by Limoni's Catering). In the break, the audience could also visit the book table run by the first cooperatively owned bookstore in Austria (Buchquartier).

Images: © Mathias Heisler

A huge thank you to our public and private sponsors! We were delighted to welcome representatives from PORR Group, ABB, DELTA AG, ÖGNI - Österreichische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Immobilienwirtschaft at the event.

Thank you very much also to Nicole Mothes (Embassy of Canada | Ambassade du Canada), Nyoman Yatmi Pravita Dewi (Embassy of the Republic Indonesia), Stadt Wien and everyone, who keeps standing behind our summer universities!