Shaping a future that benefits everyone.

Project Vision – Where Do We Want to Go?

The EXDIGIT project (Excellence in Digital Sciences and Interdisciplinary Technologies) pursues the long-term vision of establishing Salzburg as a leading and internationally recognized hub for digital sciences and interdisciplinary technologies. At its core lies the conviction that the major societal challenges of our time – from digital transformation to climate change and the quest for a sustainable economy – can only be successfully addressed through collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education.

EXDIGIT aims to serve as an innovative platform that combines technological excellence with social relevance. Its stated objective is to develop and apply digital key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Geoinformatics or Human-Computer Interaction not in isolation, but in dynamic interaction with ethical, social, ecological, and economic perspectives, and to embed them into broader disciplinary contexts.

Within this framework, the University of Salzburg positions itself as a pioneer of human-centered digital transformation, opening up new pathways for academic exchange, education, and regional as well as international collaboration. EXDIGIT is intended to strengthen Salzburg sustainably as an innovation location and to generate fresh momentum for research, business, education, and society.

In line with the goal of strengthening the region and the future of digital technologies, the project is supported and co-funded by the Province of Salzburg.

Project Mission – How Do We Achieve This Vision?

The mission of EXDIGIT is to establish a highly dynamic, interdisciplinary research and development environment that consolidates, strategically advances, and internationally positions the existing digital competencies in Salzburg.

In concrete terms, EXDIGIT focuses on the following key areas of action:

• Unleashing Interdisciplinary Excellence

By strategically combining and expanding existing areas of strength, a unique scientific profile is being developed. This is based on collaborations across disciplines and aims to establish new fields of research at the intersection of technology, people, and society.

• Education and Talent Development

At the heart of the mission is the creation of an interdisciplinary research college for PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. It promotes a structured, cross-disciplinary scientific education with international orientation, strong mentoring standards, and a clear focus on scientific excellence and gender balance. The goal is to prepare future scientific leaders for the challenges of tomorrow and to develop the next generation of top talent in the digital sciences.

• Fostering Collaboration and Visibility

Through the establishment of interdisciplinary bridge professorships and joint appointments with regional partners such as Salzburg Research and FH Salzburg, and with the support of an internationally composed advisory board, EXDIGIT becomes a cooperative innovation platform. The resulting synergies are designed to foster international research projects, external funding acquisition, and long-term collaborations with industry and society.

• Knowledge Transfer and Societal Impact

EXDIGIT is committed to active dissemination and public outreach in order to embed its research results into the realms of business, education, policymaking, and civil society. This includes international publications, events, symposia, summer schools, and targeted strategies to enhance digital visibility. In doing so, the project contributes meaningfully to the public discourse on digitalization, interdisciplinarity, and sustainability.

EXDIGIT sees itself as a driving force for digital excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, placing the human being at the center of its mission. The University of Salzburg leverages its role not only to advance technological innovation, but also to shape it in a way that is socially responsible, application-oriented, and future-ready.

The project stands as an example of a new understanding of university research – open, networked, value-driven, and with a strong regional and international impact.