Vienna to home major new biomedical artificial intelligence institute

Vienna is solidifying its reputation as a global hub for cutting-edge research with the establishment of the AITHYRA Institute, a groundbreaking center dedicated to biomedical artificial intelligence (AI). Founded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), the institute is set to revolutionize the way AI is used to tackle some of the most complex challenges in biomedicine. With €150 million in funding from the German-based Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation (BIS) and housed in Vienna's BioCenter, the institute will not only advance research but also elevate Vienna’s position as a leader in the life sciences sector. Two thirds of the funds required for the housing of the institute will be provided by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and one third by a grant from the City of Vienna.

Vienna: The ideal home for AITHYRA

Vienna's selection as the home for the AITHYRA Institute was no coincidence. With its thriving life sciences ecosystem and world-class research infrastructure, the city has long been home to many prominent international life science and pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim. This new institute will be based at the renowned Vienna BioCenter, a dynamic hub that benefits from the presence of university and non-university institutes. The Vienna Business Agency, commissioned by the City of Vienna, will oversee the construction of the institute's permanent facility in the coming years, ensuring that the city continues to be a prime destination for scientific innovation.

The Vienna BioCenter will serve as an ideal environment for the new institute, with AITHYRA set to benefit from its cutting-edge infrastructure and collaborative atmosphere. Until the construction of the new building is complete, AITHYRA will operate out of the 'Marxbox,' another facility in the district, provided by the Vienna Business Agency.

 

A boon for the city

Under the leadership of AI luminary Michael Bronstein, a professor from the University of Oxford and a renowned expert in machine learning, the institute will harness the potential of AI to transform human health. A prestigious international search committee is already looking to complement Bronstein’s expertise by recruiting a biomedical director to co-lead the institute.

"Vienna is undisputedly one of the largest life science locations in Europe," said Peter Hanke, Vienna's City Councillor for Finance and Economy. "The current figures are impressive: around 41,000 people work in the more than 600 life science organisations in Vienna. The most important top 20 pharmaceutical companies ranked by global revenue are represented in Vienna and generate an annual turnover of more than 13 billion euros. And with the Vienna BioCenter, which represents a combination of top biomedical research, innovation and educational opportunities that is unique in Europe, we have an ideal environment for the new institute. I am doubly pleased with the choice of Vienna as a location: for the patients and for Vienna as a life science location."

"Vienna is becoming a center of biomedical AI research," said Heinz Faßmann, President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. "With Michael Bronstein, we have succeeded in bringing a real superstar of the AI scene to Vienna." 

Read the full story on the website of the Austrian Academy of Sciences HERE.