Styria Discusses the Energy Future – and NEFI Plays an Active Role in Shaping It

At the Energy Enquiry in the Styrian Parliament on December 3^rd, 2025, the importance of a secure and sustainable energy supply for the region’s economic competitiveness became clear. The discussions focused on questions relating to renewable energies, storage solutions, high-performance grids, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and the role of research and innovation.</p

Technologies as an Opportunity for Industry

In his contribution, Prof. Thomas Kienberger, Head of the NEFI Innovation Lab at Montanuniversität Leoben, highlighted the technological leverage that industry can already make use of. The focus included electrification, flexibilisation and new energy systems. According to Kienberger, what is crucial is not only research itself, but joint implementation together with companies and clear political framework conditions.

What NEFI Is Already Achieving

NEFI – New Energy for Industry demonstrates how such solutions are already being realised. With 39 projects, 120 companies, 14 research institutions and an investment volume of more than 150 million euros, the innovation network shows that technological progress, climate protection and economic competitiveness can indeed go hand in hand. In the areas of electrification and energy efficiency, flexibilisation, CO₂-neutral gases and hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, circular economy and industrial symbiosis, solutions are being developed that are internationally pioneering.

Next Step: Large-Scale Projects for a Climate-Neutral Industry

The new RTI Initiative “Transformation of Industry” marks the beginning of a further development phase. Even larger and more comprehensive projects will be launched to advance key technologies essential for climate-neutral production.

“With the launch of the NEFI Innovation Lab, we have already been able to initiate project ideas in the priority areas of electrification and energy efficiency, flexibilisation, CO₂-neutral gases and hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, circular economy and industrial symbiosis. The current RTI initiative now takes the next step, enabling us to work together with industry to develop and implement larger flagship projects,” explains Prof. Thomas Kienberger, Head of the NEFI Innovation Lab.

Reaching the Forefront Together

NEFI sees itself as a service partner to industry, supporting companies from the first project idea to building suitable consortia and preparing successful submissions. The aim is to bring key technologies to market maturity, strengthen value creation in Austria and simultaneously contribute actively to the decarbonisation of the industrial sector.