IT:U Continues Its Growth Course – Number of Professorships Raised to 25

Eight additional founding professors have prevailed in an international application field with 670 submissions from 70 countries.

The Interdisciplinary Transformation University (IT:U) is appointing further professorships in the areas of Cyber Security, Quantum Information, Industrial Innovation, Data Science, Design and Economics. With this, the new Technical University for Digital Transformation in Linz is taking another significant developmental step – and doing so with great success: More than 670 researchers from 70 countries applied. Following the hearing process, eight additional founding professors have now been selected.

With eight new professorships, IT:U marks another milestone in expanding its interdisciplinary research landscape and academic teaching. The eleven research groups that began operations in autumn 2024 under the first cohort of founding professors, along with six international fellow professors, are now being strategically expanded. In the additional research groups, the new professors will drive central future-oriented topics – ranging from the digital transformation of industrial processes and the handling of large data volumes and their societal impact to cyber security and quantum technologies.

“Our research addresses the pressing challenges of our time and thrives on interdisciplinary approaches that enable sustainable and innovative solutions. For this, we need researchers who are willing to look beyond the boundaries of their own disciplines and jointly explore new paths,”
says IT:U Founding President Stefanie Lindstaedt, expressing her enthusiasm about the newly recruited scholars.

Research on the Key Technologies of Tomorrow

The new interdisciplinary, innovation-driven research groups are taking on further pressing societal challenges. In the area of Computational Medicine, for example, methods are being developed to make better use of health data – with the aim of improving diagnostics and therapies. The Security research group strengthens the security of critical infrastructures such as the internet and electricity grids by uncovering dependencies, identifying vulnerabilities, and developing effective protective measures – essential foundations for reliable communication and energy supply.

Energy Transition and Climate Futures outlines pathways toward climate-neutral energy systems, evaluates strategies for direct electrification, hydrogen, and e-fuels, and supports energy-intensive industries such as steel and chemicals in their transition to secure long-term competitiveness. The Quantum Information research area explores new possibilities of quantum physics – from tap-proof communication to innovative medical imaging methods, such as more precise cancer diagnostics – setting a strong thematic highlight at the conclusion of the Quantum Year 2025.

With these and other research areas, IT:U strengthens the health, security, sustainability, and technological sovereignty of our society.

Interdisciplinary Team of Professors

The newly assembled team of professors once again demonstrates strong interdisciplinarity. Their scientific excellence at the intersection of computer science and another discipline constitutes a central foundation for the innovation-oriented research conducted at IT:U.