Vienna in focus: First International Conference for Digital Humanism!

Vienna in focus: First International Conference for Digital Humanism!

On Monday, May 27, 2025, the first International Digital Humanism Conference was opened in the Museumsquartier Vienna. The event is under the motto "Shaping Our Digital Future" and lasts until Wednesday, May 28th. Target groups are personalities from science, technology, politics and civil society. The central topics of the conference include the influence of algorithmic systems on democratic processes as well as the ethical and legal framework for artificial intelligence. The social responsibility for innovations is also treated more intensively.

Honor protection was taken over by Federal President Alexander van der Bellen. The opening speakers included Veronica Kaup-Hasler, the scientific and cultural councilor, Erich Prem, chairman of the association for the promotion of digital humanism, Michael Häupl, President of the Vienna Science, Research and Technology Fund (WWTF), and Hannes Werthner, co-initiator of the Vienna Manifesto for Digital Humanism. In her speech, Kaup-Hasler emphasized that digitization must serve people and that human rights and democracy are not negotiable.

topics and goals of the conference

Prem pointed out the need for democratically designed digitization and criticized economic interests that currently dominate digital transformation. Häupl emphasized the social responsibility of digital humanism and explained that technological developments had to be actively designed. Werthner called for immediate action to ensure that technological innovations serve to man. Stefan Gara, a member of the Vienna Landtag, sees the conference as an impulse for Vienna's role as a leading innovation location for digital technologies.

The first day of conference focused on artificial intelligence, algorithmic fairness and ethical framework conditions. On the following days, digital platforms, power structures and their effects on media and democracy are to be discussed. The conference is part of a long -term strategy of Vienna to understand digitization as a task as a whole and to promote the exchange between science, civil society and politics.

doctoral program and interdisciplinary research

As part of the digital humanism, a doctoral program will be launched in the winter semester 2024. This program is a collaboration between the city of Vienna and the WWTF and is carried out with the participation of the Vienna University of Vienna, the University of Vienna and the WU Vienna. Experts from nine different faculties and departments are involved in the program. The total financing is 3.2 million euros, with 1.8 million euros from the city of Vienna and the WWTF. The aim is to research the interface between technology and society and to develop holistic, human -centered perspectives to cope with digital challenges.

Professor Peter Knees from the Vienna University of Technology emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in order to promote a deeper understanding of the role of technology in society. This also includes ethical questions as well as the social effects and innovations.

Digital humanism represents an Initiative that combines science, politics, business and civil society in order to make technological developments in a human center. The conference brings together global thinkers, innovators and political decision -makers to discuss the effects of information technology, artificial intelligence, democracy, human rights, inclusion and environmental regeneration. The overall goal is clear: Vienna should position itself as an international pioneer in the discussion about digital innovations and social responsibility.