CTS//AK.designSprint enters the next round: Exploring Deep Tech for a Fair and Sustainable World. Design and develop - modern problems need modern solutions.Do YOU have what it takes? Then take part in the Design Sprint! Develop creative concepts that bring society to new levels.
The Center for Technology & Society (CTS) and the Vienna Chamber of Labor (AK Wien) are organizing the Tech Design Sprint 2025 from the 8th to the 10th of May 2025. During this event, students will work in interdisciplinary teams on specific problems and try to generate solutions together. The Tech Design Sprint 2025 will focus on Exploring Deep Tech for a Fair and Sustainable World.
The following topics, therefore, take center stage:
- EMPLOYMENT: Work for society instead of profits
- SOCIAL SERVICES: Upgrading caring and caring professions
- INDUSTRY: Using the conversion as a job engine
- ENERGY: Clean, visible, and affordable for all
- EDUCATION: Education for a climate-friendly future
To outline this year's meta-theme, here is a summary:
"Deep tech is an idea that promises to bring amazing changes and improvements into our lives in the future. Deep tech companies focus on creating specialized technologies that require greater scientific or technical advances rather than just making end-user products or services. In contrast to shallow technology’s more straightforward innovations, what makes the term ‘deep-tech’ stand out is its ability to radically transform industries across multiple sectors on a global scale, with AI-driven healthcare as one example. Companies working towards this goal can be described as dedicated, hardworking entities who use advanced techniques while considering potential issues for success in various projects related to their own goals, ultimately pushing us closer towards accomplishing these feats through great strides made in science and technological advancements so far." (https://www.tuwien.at/en/ace/news/news/deep-tech/)
The detailed challenges to choose from can be found below.
Have we sparked your interest?
Then register now!
Registration deadline: March 15, 2025
Registration deadline: March 15, 2025
The Tech Design Sprint of the Vienna Chamber of Labor (AK Wien) and the Center for Technology & Society (CTS) focuses on the interests of the many: for working people and those who will become working people. For progressive, responsible, solidarity-based technology development bottom-up. For digital justice.
At the Tech Design Sprint, challenges are brought by civil society representatives (e.g., trade unions, works councils, AK, associations, and initiatives). Ideas, solutions, and even mock-ups for these challenges will be developed with students in technical subjects.
The two best groups will be awarded a prize - if your group wins, you will receive EUR 500 in prize money!
Who can participate?
We are looking for students from TU Wien, Uni Wien, FH Campus Wien, FH Technikum Wien, BOKU, and other Austrian H.E.I.s. All fields of study are welcome. The Tech Design Sprint 2025 is free of charge and catering is provided. Prizes will be awarded for the best solutions.
You do not feel fit in German?
- There will be a lot of support in the room during the event.
- If you do not understand German, it will be possible to participate.
- Experts giving short inputs in English, the presentation is also possible in English.
- Our organizing team will also be able to help from time to time at the venue.
The procedure of the Tech Design Sprint:
- Mo, 07.04.2024 12:00 am - 15:00 pm "Engagement Event"
- Thu, 08.05.2025 09:00 am - 17:00 pm "Day 1"
- Fri, 09.05.2025 09:00 am - 17:00 pm "Day 2"
- Sat, 10.05.2025 09:00 am - 16:00 pm "Day 3 + casual closing"
Prize categories
The best idea in each of the following two categories will be awarded a prize and the students in these groups will each receive EUR 500 in prize money:
- Technical Excellence
- Societal impact
Jury
The jury consists of experts from various fields:
- Sylvia Geyer, Rector of the FH Technikum Wien
- Heimo Sandtner, Rector & Academic Director of FH Campus Wien
- Further members will be announced shortly
Why should you take part?
Technology development and the associated training are usually strongly characterized by entrepreneurial motives. At the Tech Design Sprint, we want to promote digitalization for social progress. The CTS and AK Wien invite young people to help shape digital change in the interests of justice.
In an exchange with representatives of civil society (e.g., trade unions, works councils, AK, associations, and initiatives), you can also learn a lot from their perspectives and work: from social justice to the world of work and the associated power relations to the climate crisis or education.
Your main task is to develop new ideas that stand out for their technical excellence and social relevance. It is important that the ideas
- be traceable and clearly defined,
- stand out due to their uniqueness and innovativeness,
- are well thought out and feasible,
- not necessarily be programmable.
For your studies, you will benefit above all from the methodical support, and you will also receive a certificate for your participation.
There is also the chance to win the prize money (EUR 500).
Summary Event Infos
- Engagement event for registered participants: Mo, 07.04.2025 12:00-15:00 CET (Location will be provided after registration)
- Date: Thu, 08.05.2025 - Sat, 10.05.2025
- Time: 09:00-17:00 CET / Sa, 08.05.2025 09:00-15:00 CET
- Place: AK Wien Bildugszentrum Theresianumgasse 16-18, 1040 Vienna
- Registration: techdesignsprint.at
- Language: German & English
- Catering: Food and drinks will be provided
- Impressions:
Challenges to choose from
#1 Employment
Digital solutions for more orientation in everyday working life (A1)
The AK Vienna project “Digital Weiter - Problem-solving strategies for everyday working life” has shown how various barriers make it difficult to use digital services, especially for people in stressful life situations. Complex website structures, unclear terms, and a lack of guidance are additional obstacles, especially for people with limited language and reading skills. At the same time, uncertainties in the use of digital services and when entering the job market lead to stressful situations that can make transitions to a stable professional career more difficult.
A1: Develop a tool that can be used as an aid to improve readability. The aim should be to contribute to low-threshold information transfer. The tool should enable the reading and understanding of complex website texts so that those people who urgently need the information, but are denied it due to inaccessibility in the digital world.
Experts from AK Health Professions (Law & Care Policy), NGO Integrationshaus
#2 Employment
Digital solutions for more orientation in everyday working life (A2)
The AK Vienna project “Digital Weiter - Problem-solving strategies for everyday working life” has shown how many barriers make it difficult to use digital services, especially for people in stressful life situations. Complex website structures, unclear terms, and a lack of guidance are additional obstacles, especially for people with limited language and reading skills. At the same time, uncertainties in the use of digital services and when entering the job market lead to stressful situations that can make transitions to a stable professional career more difficult.
A2: Develop a digital solution that supports people with difficult access to digital services to strengthen their skills in dealing with digital government services and labor law issues. The focus is on the design of a user-friendly app for the employment contract check and a digital training environment that enables practical experience with important online administrative procedures. The aim is to create a simple orientation, clear information, and long-term support through personalized digital tools.
Experts from AK Health Professions (Law & Care Policy), NGO Integrationshaus
#3 Employment
Computer-aided management of mobile work in the interests of employees
The increasing digitalization of work organization through systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service offers companies opportunities to increase efficiency but poses considerable risks to employees' working conditions. In field service in particular, algorithmic systems can lead to work steps being rigidly prescribed and monitored, which increases the pressure on technicians and dispatchers. At the same time, personal data is recorded comprehensively, which can expose employees to a feeling of permanent surveillance. The challenge is to design a system that balances efficiency and control with the well-being of employees.
Develop a prototype model for the use of a digital system for work organization in field service that ensures good working conditions, autonomy of action, and employee participation. The model should include concrete regulations for algorithmic scheduling, digital documentation, data use, training, and further education. The aim is to create a balance between the interests of the company and the needs of employees without exposing them to excessive monitoring or unreasonable workloads.
Experts from Cracked Labs
#4 Social services
Integrated digital support in long-term care
The electronic health record (ELGA) is a central element in the digitalization of the Austrian healthcare system, with the aim of providing medical and nursing information in a standardized and structured manner. Especially in long-term care, which is currently characterized by an inconsistent level of digitization and diverse documentation systems, the implementation poses major challenges. This concerns not only the technical connection, but also avoiding additional work and ensuring data security, while at the same time demographic change and staff shortages place an additional burden on the system.
Develop a concept/model of a pervasive, digital system that is easy to integrate in practice and supports care work ubiquitously across the board during its execution. Various interfaces to existing systems (such as ELGA), which are used in nursing work, should be integrated, visualized, and edited in a user-friendly way. In a first step, this concept/model is to be designed in compliance with the GDPR for the federal state of Vienna before it can be applied throughout Austria.
Experts from AK Health Professions (Law & Care Policy)
#5 Industry
Data protection-compliant and independent communication for employees - development of an open communication tool for works councils
Communication between employees and works councils currently often takes place via proprietary platforms such as WhatsApp or company-owned channels such as Microsoft Teams. In both cases, control over the data does not lie with the employees, which entails data protection risks and potential monitoring by the employer. Open and independent alternatives, for example, based on the Matrix protocol or other open-source solutions, are available but are associated with technical hurdles and costs. A solution must, therefore, be designed to be low-threshold, both technically and organizationally, in order to ensure the broad inclusion of all employees.
Develop a concept for the introduction of an open and independent communication tool for employees that strengthens data protection and promotes self-determination. The aim is to develop a blueprint with which works councils can set up and operate such a tool easily and cost-effectively. Particular attention will be paid to user-friendliness, low technical hurdles, and the involvement of all employees. Close cooperation with works councils is essential to ensure the acceptance and long-term success of the solution.
Experts from Verein Plattform Industrie 4.0
#6 Energy
Interactive, game-based activity/deal with the energy supply of tomorrow
The energy transition presents grid operators with complex tasks such as integrating renewable energies, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring a stable and affordable energy supply. These challenges and their effects should be made understandable through an interactive concept.
Develop a prototypical, executable, tangible concept/model of an interactive, digital game that uses real data/statistics/assessments/etc. with the help of simulations to generate scenarios (narrative situations). In these scenarios, users should act as grid operators in order to deal with new developments in the energy sector, such as the use/connection of renewable energies, infrastructural changes, economic conditions (e.g., pricing, competition, etc.), or stabilization and long-term security of affordable energy supply.
Experts from Wiener Netze GmbH
#7 Education
Decarbonization technologies as part of Vienna's cityscape of the future
The decarbonization of urban spaces brings with it numerous challenges, especially in cities with historical and cultural heritage such as Vienna. New technologies such as battery storage, heat pumps, and photovoltaic systems must not only be functionally integrated but also harmonized with the aesthetic and cultural cityscape. Aspects such as land use, acceptance by the population, and sustainable spatial planning are essential in order to achieve climate targets without jeopardizing the urban identity.
Develop a concept that demonstrates innovative approaches to the integration of decarbonization technologies in urban areas. The focus is on the combination of ecological, social, and design factors, with particular attention to local energy storage solutions and harmonious integration into existing infrastructures and cultural heritage.
Experts from Wien Energie GmbH
Organizers
Arbeiterkammer Wien (AK Wien) , Center for Technology and Society (CTS)