Universities in dialogue: Innsbruck meets Munich for strong partnerships!

Universities in dialogue: Innsbruck meets Munich for strong partnerships!

On June 2, 2025, the event “Universities Meet Friends – Let’s go Munich!” took place in Munich. instead of. This event was organized by the German Circle of Friends (DFK) in collaboration with several Innsbruck universities and the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI). The venue was the state halls of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria.

The keynote speaker at the event was Martin Kocher, who works as a professor of economics at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna. His extensive academic career includes positions in cities such as Munich, Amsterdam and Gothenburg. Kocher was also Federal Minister for Labor and Economic Affairs in Austria until March 2025 and will be Governor of the Austrian National Bank from September 2025. He completed his degree in economics at the University of Innsbruck, which further strengthens his connection to the event.

Theme of the event

The central theme of the event was “Germany & Austria in Europe. Competing together in international competition”. Markus Walzl, chairman of the DFK, and Klaus-Josef Lutz, president of the IHK, opened the event. The panel discussion was moderated by Oliver Stock, editor of Business Punk.

The discussion discussed personal experiences as well as scientific findings on the economic challenges between Austria and Germany. The importance of personal, democratic and economic freedoms in Europe was urgently discussed. Markus Walzl emphasized the role of the DFK in connecting educational institutions with personalities and institutions.

Event details and networking

The event began at 11:00 a.m. with guests arriving. Martin Kocher's welcoming speech and keynote speech were followed by a lively round of questions and discussions. The event concluded with finger food and refreshments from 1 p.m. Overall, the event should also serve as a platform for discussion about future projects and ideas.

In addition to the DFK, the partnership for this event also included the IHK Munich & Upper Bavaria as well as the Technical University of Munich and the Austrian Foreign Trade Center Munich. Interested parties could register at the email address chairman@dfk-innsbruck.at.

Events like these are crucial for the exchange between universities and business. They not only offer insights into economic topics, but also promote networking between actors from different areas. In a year in which the European Business School Ranking was republished by the “Financial Times”, it is noteworthy that WU Vienna has consistently been placed in the rankings, but is currently ranked 43rd. For comparison, London Business School remains the best European business school.

By connecting academic institutions and business, the foundation is laid for successful cooperation and dynamic exchange that is of great benefit to both sides. Such events are not only informative, but also an important step towards greater networking between countries and their educational institutions.

The successful event in Munich once again underlines the importance of exchange and cooperation between Austria and Germany in the spirit of European integration.

For more information about this event please visit the pages OTS, MCI and The press.